The Effect Of Ethanol Extract Of Desmodium Velutinum Stem On Some Marker Emzyme In Liver Of Albino Wistar Rats

Present investigations were carried out on the effect of ethanol extract of Desmodium velutinum stem on some liver enzymes of albino wistar rats fed with high fat from cow‟s brain. Twelve healthy albino wistar rats were divided into four groups. Group I rats were fed with balanced diet (normal feed, that is grower‟s mash) and tap water. Group II rats were fed with fat diet (cow‟s brain) (3.6g/day) alone. Group III rats received combined mixture of 70% fat diet (cow‟s brain) with 30% ethanol extract of Desmoduim elutinum stem (2.7g/day), Group IV rats were fed with fat diet (cow‟s brain) and were administered with a drug atorvastatin (5mg/rat/day). The rats were sacrificed at the end of the experimental (two weeks) period. The plant extract was screened for its phytochemical constituents, using standard procedures. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids. The liver function tests was assessed by measuring the total bilirubin, total serum protein, direct and indirect bilirubin and liver enzymes such as Alanine amino transferase (ALT), Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alkaline phosphate (ALP), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) on the liver of the albino wistar rat. The serum, ALT, ALP, AST and bilirubin concentration of the albino wistar rat increased significantly (P>0.05) compared to their total protein concentration. The result obtained indicate that the ethanol extract of Desmodium Velutinum stem possess hepatoprotective activity on the fatty liver of albino wistar rat fed with fat from cow‟s brain. The studied plant showed variable amount of phytochemicals including flavonoid, alkaloid, saponin, tannins, terpenoid which were determined quantitatively using literature methods. The significant effect of the Desmodium velutinum stem ethanol extract was compared with standard drug, atorvastatin. The result in the present study suggest that the ethanol extract of Desmodium velutinum stem can be used in treating liver diseases.

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLE

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 TAXONOMY OF PLANT (DESMODIUM VELUTINUM)

2.2 LIVER

2.3 WHAT THE LIVER DOES

2.4 LIVER FUNCTION TEST/MARKER ENZYMES

2.5 LIVER MARKERS ENZYMES (AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, LDH) 13 

2.6 USES OF LIVER FUNCTION TEST

2.7 ATORVASTATIN

2.8 PHYTOCHEMICALS

2.9 TYPES OF PHYTOCHEMICALS

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 IDENTIFICATION AND EXTRACTION OF DESMODIUM VELUTINUM PLANTS   

3.2 PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

3.3 EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODEL

3.4 COLLECTION OF BLOOD SAMPLES

3.5 PROCEDURES FOR CARRYING OUT LIVER FUNCTION TESTS

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS (PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SAMPLES) -

4.1    QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS (QUALITATIVE PHYTOCHEMISTRY)

4.2 LIVER FUNCTION TEST OF RATS FEED WITH VARIOUS SAMPLES  -

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 DISCUSSION

5.2 CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

TABLE I QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF DESMODIUM VELUTINUM STEM

TABLE II QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF ETHANOL EXTRACT DESMODIUM VELUTINUM STEM

TABLE III LIVER FUNCTION TESTS OF ALBINO WISTAR RATS FED WITH VARIOUS SAMPLES

FIGURE I DESMODIUM VELUTINUM PLANT

 

Desmodium velutinum is a medicinal plant around the world. The extract of Desmodium velutinum showed significant anti-pyretic activity on experimental rats used. Desmodium velutinum is very rich in alkaloids and related amino compounds. It is a source of flavonoid, saponins and pharmacological active agent useful in the treatment of aches and pains. It also showed that one of the uses is for erectile enhancing property. Desmodium velutinum being one of the important medicinal plant in the world may have effect on the liver. However limited studies are available on the effect of Desmodium velutinum treatment on hepatoprotective effect of its extract on high fat diet fed animal. In this regard, the present study was aimed to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of Desmodium velutinum stem on liver function tests on albino wistar rats fed with high fat from cow‟s brain related to different hepatoprotective effect by comparing it to a known drug, atorvastatin treatment which is used to lower the level of cholesterol in blood. Since changes in the concentration and composition of plasma lipid and lipoproteins occur frequently in liver disease, these findings may be useful in following the clinical course of patient with liver diseases of various causes.

Liver disease is associated with characteristic changes in the lipid composition of the surface coat of plasma lipoprotein particles. Cholesterol accumulate as hepatic secretion of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase decreases, such abnormal circulating lipoproteins tend to induce corresponding changes in cell membrane lipid composition. Studies in both human and experimental liver disease confirm that this does occur and that it is wide-spread. Low density lipoproteins, which are rich in cholesterol can also be taken up by the liver or extrahepatic tissues by a receptor mediated endocytosis that specially recognizes apolipoproteins. It can be predicted that extra hepatic membrane dysfunction might be a general feature of severe liver disease. It is proposed that many of the cellular disturbances and metabolic abnormalities accompanying hepatic disease result from, or are exacerbated by lipoprotein induced changes in membrane lipid composition and function. Hence Desmodium velutinum may be a source of a pharmacological active agent useful in the treatment of high level cholesterol in the blood which has got both liver protecting and nutritional value.