NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL OF SYNSEPALUM DULCIFICUM PULP AND THE EFFECTOF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN ALBINO RATS

NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL OF SYNSEPALUM DULCIFICUM PULP AND THE EFFECTOF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN ALBINO RATS

ABSTRACT

The nutritional and antinutritive contents of S. dulcificum pulp were investigated to supplement the known information on the anti-diabetic impact of the plant. Biochemical parameters such as liver function enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) and bilirubin concentrations, serum total protein, serum albumin and globulin, kidney function parameters (creatinine and urea concentrations), blood glucose, serum lipid profile, and lipid peroxidation were measured in rats given various concentrations of the methanolic extract to determine their effects. The internal organs (liver and kidney) were also removed for histological examination. According to the study’s findings, S. dulcificum contains 7.75% protein, 59.55% moisture, 4.36% ash, 6.24% crude fibre, 3.26% fat, and 18.84% carbohydrate. The mineral analysis revealed that S.dulcificum pulp contained 100 mg/g calcium, 24.20 mg/g iron, 9.49 mg/g zinc, 6.22 mg/g copper, 0.01 mg/g chromium, and 0.01 mg/g cobalt. Vitamin analysis reveals that S. dulcificum pulp contains 0.04% vitamin A, 22.69% vitamin C, 0.01% vitamin D, and 0.02% vitamin K. Antinutrient analysis of the pulp reveals 5.67% oxalate, 0.03% phytates, and 0.02% hemagglutanin. S.dulcificum pulp contains 8.055% tryptophan, 1.35% phenylalanine, 0.7% isoleucine, 0.5% tyrosine, 1.05% methionine, 0.4% proline, 0.69% valine, 1.1% threonine, 0.4% histidine, 0.5% alanine, 1.02% glutamine, 1.6% glutamic acid, 0.7% glycine, 0.3% serine, 1% arginine, 0.1% aspartic acid, 1.23% asparagine, 0.6% lysine, and 0.6% leucine. Quantitative phytochemical research reveals that the pulp includes 3.45% saponins, 57.01% flavonoids, 7.12% tannins, 0.0001% alkaloids, 0.0001% glycosides, 0.0003% resins, 0.0002% terpenoids, 0.0001% steroids, and 0.0003% cyanogenic glycosides. The acute toxicity data reveal that the methanol extract is not harmful to mice at doses as high as 5000mg/kg body weight. The study found that mice given 100mg/kg b.w of the methanolic extract had considerably lower (p<0.05) serum levels of glucose, bilirubin, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and ALT after 14 days than after 28 days. However, no significant difference (p>0.05) was seen between the groups in serum ALP, AST, creatinine, urea, cholesterol, TAG, albumin, and globulin levels on the 14th and 28th days. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in malondaldehyde and serum protein concentrations in the 500mg/kg b.w test group, while glucose concentrations declined considerably (p<0.05) in the 100mg/kg b.w and 500mg/kg b.w test groups after 14 days compared to 28 days. The 200mg/kg b.w test group showed significantly higher levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.05). Histopathological examination reveals normal liver architecture in all three groups at 100mg/kg b.w., 200mg/kg b.w., and 500mg/kg b.w. Rat kidney slices reveal normal glomerulus (G) and renal tubules (arrow) at the same doses.