Research Article
Ali Fredrick U, UA Ibiam, Omin
Abstract
Aim: The study was carried out to investigate effects of administration ethanol leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium and Piper guineense on lipid profile parameters against ethanol – induced hepatic injury in rats. Method: Forty male albino rats (weighing 150-220 g) were used. The animals were divided into four groups A, B, C and D with C and D subdivided into four subgroups; C1, C2, C3 and C4; D1, D2, D3 and D4 for G. latifolium and Piper guineense respectively, each contained four rats. Group A and B served as positive and negative controls, group B, subgroup C and D were exposed with 70% ethanol for 7 days to induce liver damage and later treated group C and D with ethanol extracts for 21 days while 0.9% normal saline were administered to the controls. The sub-groups were administered 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg kg-1 b.wt. of ethanol extract of G. latifoliujm and Piper guineense leaf, respectively. After 21 days blood sample were collected and the serum were used to evaluate lipid profile spectrophotometrically. Results: Significant (P < 0.05) increase of serum levels of total cholesterol (CHL), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) in ethanol intoxicated rats were observed. There were significant (P < 0.05) decrease of serum levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and increase in HDL, total cholesterol in ethanol intoxicated rats were restored to normal levels when treated with Gongronema latifolium and Piper guineense in a dose dependent fashion. The study demonstrated that Gongronema latifolium and Piper guineense possesses significant hepatoprotective effects and may be the source of lead compound in the management of liver diseases. Hence, the hypolipidaemic effects could represent a protective mechanism against the development hyperlipidaemia characteristic of ethanol.