Biochemical and Histological Effects of Eleophorbia drupifera Leaf Extract in Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Water extract of Eleophorbia drupifera Leaves was administered orally in graded doses of 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg body weight of experimental animals for 2 weeks. The effect of the extract on some biochemical parameters and the histology of the liver and kidney tissues were evaluated in Albino Wistar rats. Serum glucose levels were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated. The cholesterol, triacylglycerol and ALT levels of the test groups demonstrated no significant change, but AST showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) at 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg body weight. Computed AST/ALT ratio showed a decrease but no histopathological lesions were observed in either liver or kidney tissue. The results suggest that no adverse biochemical changes are associated with the use of the extract in phytotherapy. The extract may contain some hepatoprotective agent(s) and antihistopathologic agents.