Hepatotoxic Effects of Ethanolic leaf Extract of Breynia nivosa (Snow bush) in Wistar rats
Authors
H.O. Enwelum, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State
A.A. Nwankwo, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State
C.M. Nwozor*, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chukuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus.
*Correspondence: Nwozor C.M., e-mail: corneliusnwozor@gmail.com; Tel: +2348064971045.
Received: 14 June 2021; Accepted: 5 July 2021; Published 30 September 2021
How to Cite
Enwelum, H., Nwankwo, A., & Nwozor, C. (2021). Hepatotoxic Effects of Ethanolic leaf Extract of Breynia nivosa (Snow bush) in Wistar rats. Tropical Journal of Applied Natural Sciences (TJANS), 3(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.25240/tjans.v3i2.1
Abstract
The hepatotoxic effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Breynia nivosa in male albino Wistar rats were studied. The Breynia nivosa leaves were extracted using 70% ethanol. The phytochemicals were evaluated and found to contain – tannin, flavonoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides and cyanogenic glycosides. Twenty (20) adult male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into four (4) groups – three tests of A, B, C and one control – and were administered with 400mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 100mg/kg of the ethanolic leaf extract of Breynia nivosa respectively for 21days after two weeks of acclimatization. The animals were sacrificed under anaesthesia after the experiment and blood samples collected for determination of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase), malondialdehyde, and liver enzyme: aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alanine transaminase (ALT). The results showed that there was a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase level (P<0.05). Changes in other markers (malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase) were however not statistically significant (P>0.05) when compared with the control. The extract significantly increased ALT, AST, ALP levels (p<0.05). Hence Breynia nivosa may be toxic and caution should be exercised in its consumption.
Keywords: Breynia nivosa, Glutathione peroxidase, Liver enzymes, Superoxide dismutase, Wistar rats