ABSTRACT
Alcohol has been described as a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence properties in many societies today. Excessive or chronic alcohol consumption have been reported to cause serious health problems that affect different parts of the body including the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and immune system.. Anthocleista vogelii (A.V) is traditionally used in the treatment of many diseases including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia and inflammations. However, the degree to which A. vogelii protect liver and pancreas has not been reported The aim of this study was to investigate the histopathologic, biochemical and molecular activities of Anthocleista vogelii on the liver and pancreas of wistar rats intoxicated with alcohol. Sixty adult Wister Rats were used in this study. This work was divided into three phases (Phase 1-3). Phase 1 consisted of fifteen (15) Rats divided into three groups of five Rats each (N=5). Group 1 served as control and received normal Rat feed, Group 2 and 3 received graded doses of 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg extract of A.V respectively daily for 6 weeks. Phase 2 consisted of 20 Rats divided into four groups of five Rats each (N=5). Group 1 served as control and received normal Rat feed, Group 2 received 1ml of 50% alcohol daily for 12 weeks, Group 3 and 4 received 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg of A.V 30 minutes before 1ml of 50% alcohol respectively daily for 12 weeks. Phase 3 consisted of 25 Rats divided into five groups of five Rats each (N=5). Group 1 served as control and received normal Rat feed. Group 2 received 1ml of 50% alcohol for 12 weeks and 1ml of distilled water for 6 weeks. Group 3 received 1ml of 50% alcohol for 12 weeks and 400mg/kg of A.V for 6 weeks, Group 4 received 1ml of 50% alcohol for 12 weeks and 800mg/kg A.V for 6 weeks. Group 5 received 1ml of 50% alcohol for 12 weeks and 400mg/kg A.V 30 minutes before 1ml 50% alcohol for 6 weeks. At the end of each treatments, the rats were anaesthetized, blood and tissues (liver and pancreas) samples were collected for the evaluation of lipid profile, liver function test, tissue Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), serum lipase, serum amylase, histology of liver and pancreas and gene expression studies of IL-1B, IL-6, TNF-α and GLUT-2. Data were analyzed using Graph Pad Prism statistical package and results were presented as mean ± S.EM. Student T test, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare the different test groups. A p value of less than 0.05 (p<0.05) was considered statistically significant. Results showed that A.V caused a significant increase in SOD, CAT, GPx and a significant decrease in MDA levels while alcohol caused their reversal. Alcohol caused an increase in liver enzymes while A.V xviii prevented their increase. Serum Lipase was significantly increased with alcohol and A.V treatments. Alcohol caused a significant increase in amylase activities while A.V treatment induced their significant reduction. The extract of A.V caused a reduction in blood sugar level which was increased with alcohol treatment. The liver histology showed lymphocytosis with A.V treatment. Alcohol induced hepatic steatosis, hepatitis and pancreatic Islet cell hypoplasia which were ameliorated with A.V treatment. The extract of A.V up regulated the relative expression of IL-1B, IL-6 and TNF-α genes possibly via mobilization of lymphocytes. Alcohol also induced up regulation of IL-1B, IL-6, and TNF-α cytokines possibly via alcohol-induced oxidative tissue injury. GLUT-2 gene was down-regulated in the group treated with alcohol for 12 weeks and 400 mg/kg of A.V 30 minutes before a repeat alcohol for 6 weeks. In conclusion, A. vogelii leaf methanol extrac possesses hypolidemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties which ameliorated the hyperlipidemic, inflammatory, hyperglycemic and oxidative stress effects induced by chronic alcohol ingestion.
