ABSTRACT
The influence of ethanol extracts of Allium sativum
and Aloe barbadensis on paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity were studied
in vivo using rat model. A total of 32 rats were used for the study. The rats
were grouped into four with four rats in each group. Group A was the control,
group B received paracetamol over dose (500mg / kg / ml) without extracts,
group C received paracetamol over dose plus extract of A. sativum, at 3
different concentrations of 200, 400 and 800 ug / ml. Group D also received
paracetamol over dose plus extract of A. barbadensis at 3 different
concentrations for 7 days.
The vivo studies, showed significant changes in
biochemical parameters such as lipid peroxidation products (TBARS, GSH, CAT and
SOD), liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) and Hematological parameters (Total
protein, albumin and Bilirubin).Observations showed that administration of the
ethanol extracts caused a significant reversal (p< 0.05) of these effects in
a concentration dependent manner. These were also seen in
the Histological
Analysis. This work has demonstrated the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol toxicity
and the hepatoprotective effects of ethanol extracts of A. sativum
and A. barbadensis
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page ------------------------------------- i
Certification page
------------------------------------ii
Dedication
-----------------------------------------iii
Acknowledgement
------------------------------------iv
Abstract --------------------------------------------v
Table of content
----------------------------------------vi
List of tables
--------------------------------------------ix
List of figures -------------------------------------------x
List of plates
-------------------------------------------xii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Aims
and objectives
--------------------------- 2
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 History of medicinal plants
------------------------- 3
2.2 Extraction procedures for
medicinal plants
-------
3
2.3 Aloe barbadensis
------------------------------------ 4
2.3.1 Botanical classification
------------------------------4
2.3.2 Chemicals and nutrients found
on A. barbadensis-5
2.3.3 Medicinal uses of A.
barbadensis
--------------- 6
2.4 Allium sativum
---------------------------------------7
2.4.1 Botanical classification
--------------------------- 7
2.4.2 Description and distribution of
A. sativum
------7
2.4.3 General uses of A. sativum -----------------------7
2.4.4 Medicinal uses of A. sativum
---------------------7
2.4.5 Challenges of A. sativum
--------------------------8
2.5 Paracetamol --------------------------------------------9
2.5.1 Paracetamol Metabolism
----------------------------9
2.5.2 Paracetamol as an Agent of
Oxidative Stress ----11
2.5.3. The roles of liver in drug metabolism
-------------11
2.6
Lipid
peroxidation -----------------------------------13
2.6.1 Mechanism of lipid peroxidation
--------------------13
2.6.2 Glutathione (GSH)
-----------------------------------15
2.6.3 Catalases (CAT)
--------------------------------------16
2.6.4 Super oxide Dismutase (SOD)
----------------------17
2.7 Liver Enzymes
-----------------------------------------18
2.7.1 Transaminases
---------------------------------------18
2.7.2 Alkaline phosphatase
---------------------------------19
2.8 Protein
----------------------------------------------------19
2.9 Bilirubin
--------------------------------------------------21
CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Materials
-------------------------------------------22
3.1.1 Equipments
Used for the Experiment
-----------22
3. 1.2 Chemicals /Reagents
------------------------------22
3.1.3 Collection
of Biological Materials
----------------23
3.2 Methods
---------------------------------------------23
3.2.1 Ethanolic
Extraction of Plant Materials
----------23
3.2.2 Preparation of Extracts
----------------------------24
3.2.3 Administration of Paracetamol Overdose --------24
3.2.4 Administration of Extracts
--------------------------24
3.3 Biological Analysis
-----------------------------------25
3.3.1 Determination of Aspartate Transaminase (AST)-25
3.3.2 Determination of Alanine Transaminase (ALT)
-25
3.3.2 Determination of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
-26
3.3.4 Determination of Total Protein
-------------------26
3.3.5 Determination of Serum Albumin
----------------27
3.3.6 Determination of Serum Globulin
------------------27
3.3.7 Determination of Bilirubin
--------------------------27
3.4 Determination of Antioxidant Activity ----------28
3.4.1 Determination
of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive
Substances (TBARS)
--------------------------28
3.4.2 Determination of Reduced Glutathione (GSH) --28
3.4.3 Determination
of Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD)--29
3.4.4 Determination of Catalase (CAT)
---------------29
3.5 Histological
Analysis
-------------------------------30
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS
4.1 Extraction yields
------------------------------------31
CHAPTER FIVE:
5.0
Discussion
----------------------------------------------43
CHAPTER SIX: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
6.1 Summary
-------------------------------------------------47
6.2 Conclusions
------------------------------------------------47
6.3 Recommendation
-----------------------------------------47
References
---------------------------------------------------- 48
Appendix A
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1:
Extraction Yield
----------- 31