Effect of Aqueous Extract of Citrullus Lanatus (Water Melon) Seed on the Liver of Ethanol Treated Adult Wistar Rats
CHAPTER ONE
Aim and Objectives
Aims of the Study
To evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Citrullus lanatus (water melon) seed on the liver of ethanol treated aldult Wistar rats.
Objectives of the Study
The specific objectives were to determine the following:
- The changes in morphology and morphometry of the liver due to ethanol treated adult Wistar
- Histopathological changes in the liver using routine histological techniques of haematoxylin and eosin (H and E) and the use of special stains such as Periodic Acid Schiff for glycogen deposition, Masson‘s Trichrome stain for collagen fibres, Feulgen stain for DNA
- The changes in liver enzymes activities such as alanine amino-transferase (ALT), aspartate amino-transferase (AST) and alkaline phosphates (ALP) using biochemical
- The changes in protein concentration of the liver in treated and untreated rats using Bradford
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
LIVER
The liver is a vital organ of the digestive system present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion. The liver is necessary for survival; there is currently no way to compensate for the absence of liver function in the long term, although new liver dialysis techniques can be used in the short term. This gland plays a major role in metabolism and has a number of functions in the body, including glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, hormone production, and detoxification. The liver’s highly specialized tissues regulate a wide variety of high- volume biochemical reactions, including the synthesis and breakdown of small and complex molecules, many of which are necessary for normal vital functions (Maton et al., 2003). The liver plays a pivotal role in the metabolism of toxic substances that enter the body. Alcohol is one of these toxic substances (Adebisi, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006), which is ultimately broken down into simple end-products for easy elimination (Fernandez- Checa et al., 1997; Fernandez-Checa, 2003). However, certain by products generated during alcohol metabolism may be more toxic than alcohol itself and may contribute to the development of alcohol liver disease (Ashak et al., 1991). Alcohol is the major culprit of liver disease in Western countries and this arises from excessive ingestion of alcohol (Lieber, 2000). Alcohol affects many organs of the body, including the nervous system and the liver (Adebisi, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006). Almost all ingested alcohol is metabolized in the liver and excessive alcohol consumption may lead to acute and chronic liver disease (Cederbaum, 2001; Cederbaum et al., 2009)
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS ANDMETHODOLOGY
Materials
Experimental Animals
Twenty five (25), Wistar rats of both sexes were purchased from Pharmacology Animal House, Faculty of Pharmaceutical sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria. The animals were kept in the Department of Human Anatomy animal house and maintained in standard laboratory condition at room temperature (35 oC), humidity and under twelve hour dark-light cycle. The animals were fed on standard feed Grower mash diet (Vital feeds Nigeria Ltd) and water ad libitum. The animals were allowed to acclimatize to their new environment for 2 weeks prior to commencement of the administration.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
Morphological Studies
shows the differences in the mean body weight of the animals in each group as weight were taken before commencement of administration and at the end of administration before animals were sacrified. Highest increase in mean weight gain was observed in the group treated with distilled water. While weight was affected by the ethanol treated group as the weight gain was very significantly different when compared to the water control group at (P ≤ 0.001) and the extract treated group given at 200mg/kg of Citrullus lanatus seed was highly significantly different from water control group at (P≤ 0.01). While the silymarin treated group shows significantly different from that of the ethanol group (P≤0.05). The hepatic index (liver-body weight ratio %) for the ethanol control group was highly significantly different from water control group (P ≤ 0.01) and the extract group given 200mg/kg of Citrullus lanatus seed was significantly different from water control group (P ≤ 0.05). While the silymarin treated group shows significantly different from that of the ethanol group (P≤0.05).
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION
This present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of aqueous extract of Citrullus lanatus seed on the liver of ethanol treated aldult wistar rats.
Increase in body weight gain was observed in all the groups except the water control group (Negative control). The extract group had the highest gain in body weight when compared with ethanol control group (Positive control). This suggests that Citrullus lanatus seed aqueous extract did not affect the food intake. As expected, rats exposed to ethanol for one day in Positive control group showed decrease in body weight gain. This observation agrees with earlier reports on the effects of alcohol on digestion, absorption, storage, utilization and excretion of essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and proteins (Gruchow, et al., 1985, Lieber, 2003). Alcohol impairs nutrient absorption by damaging cells lining the stomach and intestines, and disabling transport of some nutrients into the blood (Feinman, 1998). Alcohol also inhibits the breakdown of nutrients into usable substances, by decreasing the secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas (Korsten, 1989). Moreover, Pratt and Thomson (1992) reported that excessive alcohol intake can impair the utilization of nutrients by altering their storage and excretion.
CHAPTER SIX
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
The effect of aqueous extract of Citrullus lanatus seed on the liver of ethanol treated adult Wistar rats was studied. The results obtained from this study could be summarized thus:
- Citrullus lanatus seed extract prevented the elevation of liver enzymes markers (AST, ALT and ALP) by
- Citullus lanatus seed extract was also able to reduce protein concentration of the liver
- Citullus lanatus seed extract was able to collaborate its biochemical effect with our histological findings as it help preserve liver histoarchiteture by protecting it from the assault caused by ethanol
CONCLUSION
The present study shows that aqueous extract of Citrullus lanatus seed possesses hepatoprotective effects against ethanol treated adult Wistar rats via its anti-oxidant properties.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Further studies are needed to evaluate hepatoprotective effect of Citrullus lanatus seed using different hepatotoxins, to further investigate the potential of the plant in ethnomedicine for the treatment of liver
- Further studies should be done to investigate the active principle responsible for hepatoprotection due to Citrullus lanatus
- Further studies should be done to investigate different duration of treatment with citrullus lanatus seed.
- Further studies are required to determine the mechanism of interaction between Citrullus lanatus seed and alcohol.
- There is need to compare the different methods of extraction of Citrullus lanatus seed for further studies.
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