Original Research Article
Year: 2014 | Month: February | Volume: 4 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 31-34
Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Effects of Carotenoid on Liver Enzymes of Adult Wistar Rats
Ezejindu D N, Ukoha Ukoha, Asomugha A L
Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: Ezejindu D N
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to determine the hepatoprotective effects of carotenoid on liver enzymes of adult wistar rats following low and high consumption. Twenty wistar rats of weights 150 – 210kg were divided into four groups of five animals each. The control group A was orally administered with 0.35ml of distilled water daily; the experimental groups B,C and D were orally administered with 0.4ml, 0.5ml and 0.6ml of carotenoid respectively. Twenty four hours after the last administration, the animals were weighed, and sacrificed using chloroform inhalation method; liver tissues were removed and weighed. Blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture using sterile syringes and needles. Blood for serum preparation was collected into sterile plain tubes and stored in the refrigerator for analysis. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphotase (ALP) were determined using randox kit method. The final body weight of the experimental groups increased significantly (P<0.001) with the control. The relative liver weight of the experimental groups increased statistically with the control. The activity levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphotase (ALP) in the experimental groups were similar with the control. The present study therefore suggests that consumption of carotenoid at low and high doses did not cause any biochemical alterations in the liver enzymes.
Key words: Carotenoid, Hepatoprotective, Body weight, Liver weigh, Wistar rats.