ABSTRACT
This research was carried out to determine the effect of administration of Achomanes Difformis (blume) on liver functions in adult wistar rat, in which 20 adult wistar rats were purchased at the institute of advanced medical research and training (IMRAT), UCH, Ibadan. The rats were grouped into 4 in which there is a control group in which the rats were placed on normal diet and water. Other groups (A, B and C) were administered 300mg/kg/b.wt, 500mg/kg/b.wt and 700mg/kg/b.wt respectively. The herb was administered for duration of 14 days. Their cages were cleaned every day maintain proper hygiene. The rats were sacrificed immediately after two weeks of drug administration. From the result obtained, the administration of Anchomanes difformis has a hepatotoxic effect. It showed that there was an insignificant increase (p>0.05) in the level of AST, ALT and ALP, and an insignificant decrease (p>0.05) in the level of Total and Direct Bilirubin in the plasma at different dosage rate of the herb, when compared to the control group. The result demonstrates that the ingestion of Anchomanesdifformis has a hepatotoxic effect in adult wistar rat.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 MEDICINAL PLANTS
The use of herbal medicine in the treatment of diseases is increasing worldwide (Kaufman et al.,2002). This is traceable to the growing belief of consumers that herbal remedies are safe and effective. Indeed, the effectiveness of some medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases has been validated through research and clinical studies (Oguntola, 2007). A medicinal plant is any plant which, in one or more of its organ, contains substance that can be used for therapeutic purpose or which is a precursor for synthesis of useful drugs (Sofowora, 1982).
The plants that possess therapeutic properties or exert beneficial physiological effects on the animal body are generally designated as “medicinal plants”. Although there are no apparent characteristics in the medical plants growing with them, yet they possess some special qualities (or virtues) that make them medicinally important.
Medicinal plants contain secondary metabolites that are chemical compounds that can elicit a response in humans. The medicinal values of plants are due to the presence of small doses of active compounds which produces physiological actions in the human and animal body (Zaidi, 1998).These constituents are usually produced in different parts like the root, leaves, fruits and seeds (Kochnar, 1981). Some bioactive compounds derived from plants include tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, e.t.c. which plays main role in nutrition, physiology and control of various diseases (Sofowora, 1993).
1.1.2 HISTORY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS
Modern medicine utilizes synthetic drugs that are modeled on compounds obtained from plants. Therefore, whether plants are used as a whole, or extracts or their synthetics, their discovery originated from the long term practice of medicinal herbalism by man. Since the dawn of civilization, man utilized plants for their medicinal and edible values. By trial and error man distinguished between the beneficial and poisonous plants. Man learned about the usefulness by observing animals; Sick animals utilize certain plant that they usually ignore. Today, this method is used by scientists to isolate active compounds from medicinal plants.
Herbalism is thought to have started some 60,000 years ago, where pollen grains of several medicinal plant such as marshmallow (Althea) yarrow (Achilea) ephedia and muscari were documented at the burial site at Shanidar in Iraq. It is impossible to determine at what point in time mankind first discovered the medicinal use of specific plants. During the Greek Era, knowledge on the use medicinal plants expanded in such a way that conquered adopted skills and knowledge of various cultures to their own. By 400years B.C, Hippocrates, the father of medicine tried to weed out the superstions bound to health and the use of medicinal plants. By around 50 A.D, Dioscorides described plant in a methodic way including their name, synonyms and picture, habitat, botanical description, medicinal uses, harmful side effects, instruction on the collection, e.t.c. He classified plants based on medicinal action. Many plants with medicinal virtues are termed “officinalis”; The Latin name denotes that the plant is medicinally useful.
Several botanists wrote on the usage on medicinal plants, extending to 1791. Later the isolation of chemical substances from plants was commenced by “covetou” and “polletier” who isolated alkaloids and other alkaloids dating up to 1850. Later, Scientists from the mid-nineteenth century to date isolated most of the chemical constituents that is known today. Some of them are still in use in their natural form, while others are produced more efficiently by chemically synthesis in industry.
1.2 LIVER FUNCTION TEST
Liver function tests (LFTs) are group of clinical biochemistry laboratory blood assays designed to give information about the state of a patient’s liver (Lee et al., 2009). Liver function test is commonly used to describe liver enzyme measurement, but the term should be reserved for tests of the functional hepatic reserve; traditionally the Albumin level and the Prothrombin time (PT) (Floraet al.,1990). On the other hand, elevated serum liver enzymes (aminotrasnferases, ALP and GGT) can reflect abnormalities in liver cells or in the bile duct.
Levels of enzymes known as Aminotransferases (AST and ALT) and ALP are used to detect damage to the liver cells and obstruction by bile (a substance produced by liver cells to digest fats) respectively. Thus, liver tests can be divided into measures of liver functions, cell injury and biliary obstruction. No single test is able to provide an overall measure of liver function. Instead the group of values measured is interpreted collectively to determine the likelihood of liver disease, possible causes and severity of disease (Braunwaldet al.,2001 and Longmoreet al.,2004).
The following parameters are monitored under liver function test: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Gamma-glutamylTranspeptidase (GGT), Bilirubin, Prothrombin time and, Albumin.
1.3 AIM OF STUDY: This aim of this project is to investigate the effect of the ethanolic extract of Anchomanesdifformison Liver functions (AST, ALT, ALP and Bilirubin) in adult wistar rats: