ABSTRACT
Background: Xylopia aethiopica has been regarded as having great medicinal value in folklore medicine and has been widely used in pregnant women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum periods.
Aim: This study investigated the influence of aqueous and oil extract of Xylopia aethiopica (X. aethiopica) on the liver function in apparently healthy pregnant wistar Rats.
Methods: The samples were administered once per day for a period of seven (7) days to apparently healthy pregnant female wistar rats that had been randomly selected into seven (7) groups. Liver function parameters (ALT, AST, ALP, albumin, globulin, total protein and bilirubin) were determined using standard protocols after the rats were sacrificed on the 15th day. Thirty-five rats weighing 140-210g were used for this study. The rats were divided into seven groups (n=5). The group 1 was used as the control group, while groups 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 served as the test groups. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were administered aqueous extract orally. Groups 5, 6 and 7 were administered hexane extract. Group 1 (control): received only distilled water orally; Group 2: received 250mg/kg aqueous extract orally. Group 3: received 500mg/kg aqueous extract orally. Group 4: received 1000mg/kg aqueous extract orally. Group 5: received 0.25ml/kg oil extract orally. Group 6: received 0.5ml/kg oil extract. Group 7: received 1ml/kg oil extract. The extracts were administered for 7 days, after which the animals were sacrificed using chloroform anesthesia. The blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture into lithium heparin tubes for liver function test. The liver tissues were collected into bottles containing formasaline for histological analysis. The data was analyzed using ANOVA, the test results were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean (SEM) and the differences in mean values were considered significant at P<0.05.
Results: There was a significant decrease in AST levels compared with control in rats administered 0.5ml/kg and 250mg/kg of hexane and aqueous extract of the fruit of Xylopia aethiopica respectively. For the aqueous extract, there was an increase in ALP at 1000mg/kg dose. There was a significant increase in albumin levels compared with control in rats administered 0.25ml/kg hexane and 250mg/kg aqueous extract of Xylopia aethiopica fruit. There was no significant difference observed in the other doses and parameters in comparison with control.
Conclusion: From this study, it can be observed that the extracts had no negative effects on liver function except at high dose of 1000mg/kg where ALP was increased and at low doses (0.25ml/kg and 250mg/kg hexane and aqueous respectively) compared to control. Thus administration of both extracts of the fruit of Xylopia aethiopica may not be hepatotoxic to the liver during pregnancy.
Keywords: Xylopia aethiopica , Liver function, Hepatoxic.
