Biochemical changes associated with the administration of aqueous pulp extract of Irvingia gabonensis fruit on adult male Wistar rats

Abstract

Summary: This study evaluates the medicinal and therapeutic importance of aqueous pulp extract of Irvingia gabonensis (APEIG) fruit on some biochemical indices in adult male albino rats. Thirty-six adult male rats were grouped into 3 groups of 12 rats each. Group 1 was the control, while groups 2 and 3 received 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively. The quantitative and qualitative phytochemical constituents present in the APEIG were alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids in moderate amounts, while saponins, tannins, glycosides, sterols, and phenols were detected in trace amounts. The treatment lasted for 21 days and biochemical parameters were analyzed following standard procedures. Results obtained indicated a reduction in the bodyweight of the treated groups. The serum cholesterol, LDL, and VLDL concentrations were significantly moderated in the treatment groups, although, the serum HDL concentration was elevated dose-dependently on days 14 and 21. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was elevated in the treatment groups on days 7 and 14 while aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, urea, uric acid, total protein, and albumin were not affected by the administration of (APEIG) on days 7, 14 and 21. Serum bilirubin was significantly lowered in the treatment groups on days 7, 14, and 21 while fasting blood glucose (FBS) of the treated groups was moderate. The results revealed that the administration of APEIG had promising medicinal potentials and could be harnessed in disease management.

Keywords

• Irvingia gabonensis
• Alkaline phosphatase
• Urea
• Creatinine
• Bilirubin