Project Materials

THE EFFECT OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF DESMODIUM VELUTINUM STEM ON SOME MARKER ENZYME IN LIVER OF ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Present investigations were carried out on the effect of ethanol extract of Desmodium velutinum stem on some liver enzymes of albino wistar rats fed with high fat from cow‟s brain. Twelve healthy albino wistar rats were divided into four groups. Group I rats were fed with balanced diet (normal feed, that is grower‟s mash) and tap water. Group II rats were fed just a fat diet consisting of cow’s brain (3.6g/day). Group IV rats were fed a fat diet consisting of cow’s brain and given atorvastatin (5 mg/rat/day), while Group III rats were given a combination of 70% fat diet (cow’s brain) and 30% ethanol extract of Desmoduim elutinum stem (2.7g/day). At the conclusion of the two-week study period, the rats were killed. Using established methods, the phytochemical contents of the plant extract were tested. Through phytochemical screening, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins were found. The liver function tests was assessed by measuring the total bilirubin, total serum protein, direct and indirect bilirubin and liver enzymes such as Alanine amino transferase (ALT), Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alkaline phosphate (ALP), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) on the liver of the albino wistar rat. The serum, ALT, ALP, AST and bilirubin concentration of the albino wistar rat increased considerably (P>0.05) compared to their total protein concentration. The findings obtained indicate that the ethanol extract of Desmodium Velutinum stem contain hepatoprotective action on the fatty liver of albino wistar rat fed with fat from cow‟s brain. The investigated plant displayed varying amount of phytochemicals including flavonoid, alkaloid, saponin, tannins, terpenoid which were evaluated quantitatively utilising literature methodologies. The remarkable effect of the Desmodium velutinum stem ethanol extract was compared with standard medication, atorvastatin. The outcome in the present study suggest that the ethanol extract of Desmodium velutinum stem can be employed in treating liver illnesses.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The liver is the largest and most complex internal organ in the body. It plays a key part in the maintenance of internal environment through its many and diversified activities. Liver is involved in various critical tasks such as metabolism, secretion and storage. Inflammation and alterations to the hepatocytes are features of hepatitis or inflammatory disorders.

One of the most common illnesses in the world is hepatitis. According to reports, 18,000 people every year pass away from liver cirrhosis brought on by viral hepatitis (Wang et al., 2008).

The condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which progresses from steatosis to tratohepatitis, fibrosis, and necrosis, is caused by ectopic fat storage in obesity, especially in the liver.

NAFLD is considered the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome because of its strong correlation with obesity and insulin resistance. The liver can synthesise beneficial principles and detoxicate harmful substances.

Thus, hepatotoxic substances that cause liver damage have serious repercussions. According to experimental research, animals given a high-fat diet (HFD) for longer than two months experience weight gain, oxidative stress, hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance (IR).

Furthermore, eating a diet high in calories causes fat buildup, an overabundance of inflammatory cytokines, and macrophage infiltration, all of which promote the development of liver disease. Numerous indigenous and medicinal plants have been identified as hepatoprotective agents.

Worldwide, Desmodium velutinum is used as medicine. Using experimental rats, the Desmodium velutinum extract demonstrated strong antipyretic effects. Alkaloids and related amino acids are abundant in Desmodium velutinum. It contains pharmacological active agents, flavonoids, and saponins that can be used to alleviate aches and pains. Additionally, it demonstrated that erectile enhancement is one of the uses.

One of the most significant medicinal plants in the world, Desmodium velutinum, may have an impact on the liver. There are, however, few studies on the impact of Desmodium velutinum treatment on the hepatoprotective effect of its extract on animals fed a high-fat diet.

In light of this, the current study compared the ethanol extract of Desmodium velutinum stem to atorvastatin, a medication used to lower blood cholesterol levels, in order to examine the impact of this extract on liver function tests in albino wistar rats fed high fat from cow’s brain in relation to various hepatoprotective effects.

These results may be helpful in tracking the clinical progression of patients with liver illnesses of different sources because changes in the concentration and composition of plasma lipid and lipoproteins are common in liver disease.

Characteristic alterations in the lipid composition of plasma lipoprotein particles’ surface coat are linked to liver disease. As hepatic secretion of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase declines, cholesterol builds up.

These aberrant circulating lipoproteins often cause comparable alterations in the lipid composition of cell membranes. This occurs and is widespread, according to studies on experimental and human liver disease.

The liver or extrahepatic tissues can also absorb low density lipoproteins, which are high in cholesterol, by receptor-mediated endocytosis that specifically identifies apolipoproteins.

Extrahepatic membrane disruption is expected to be a common characteristic of severe liver disease. It is hypothesised that alterations in the content and function of membrane lipids caused by lipoproteins cause or worsen many of the cellular disruptions and metabolic abnormalities that accompany hepatic illness.

Therefore, Desmodium velutinum might have a pharmacological active ingredient that is beneficial for treating high blood cholesterol levels and has nutritional and liver-protective properties.