Article Sidebar
Downloads
Main Article Content
Abstract
Acalypha wilkesiana has been used for various medicinal purposes such as in the treatment of hypertension, fungal and bacterial infections. In this study, the effects of prolonged oral administration of the aqueous leaf extract on some biochemical profiles of mice were evaluated. A total of 80 mice were allocated to 4 groups (A, B, C and D) comprising of 20 mice each. Mice in group A (control) were given (1 mL) of distilled water orally while 1 mL of the extract was given to the mice in groups B, C and D daily at the concentrations of 800, 1000 and 1200 mg/kg, respectively. This was continued for three weeks and at the end of each week, 4 mice from each group were humanely sacrificed and sera from blood samples collected were used for determination of activities of biochemical parameters. The results showed that administration of the extract resulted in significantly (p < 0.05)
lower concentrations of total protein and cholesterol in the treatment groups at the 3rd week of treatment when compared to control values. Glucose level was significantly (p > 0.05) higher in the extract-treated groups by the 3rd week of treatment, while activities of AST, ALT and ALP were not significantly (p > 0.05) altered by the extract. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences between the levels of calcium, total and conjugated bilirubin in treatment and control groups, while sodium concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) higher at day 14 after withdrawal of treatment, compared to the control. This study suggests that the extract of Acalypha wilkesiana has a hyperglycaemic effect.
Keywords
Article Details
References
- Adesina, S.K., O. Idowu, A.O. Ogundaini, H. Oladimeji, T.A. Olugbade, G.O. Onawunmi and M. Pais, (2000). Antimicrobial constituents of the leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana and Acalypha hispida. Phytotheraphy Res. 14: 371-372
- Akinde B.E. (1986). Phytochemical and Microbiological Evaluation of the oils from the leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana. In: (A Sofowara,ed) The State of Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria University of Ibadan Press, Nigeria, Pp. 362-363.
- Alade, P.I., and O.N. Irobi, (1993). Antimicrobial activities of crude leaf extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana. J. Ethropharmocol. 39: 171-174
- Allain, C. C., Poon, L. S. and Chan, C. S. G (1974). Enzymatic determination of total serum cholesterol. Clin. Chem. 20: 470.
- Anon, (2010). http://clk.atdmt.com/go/243833028/direct; ai.172623908;ct,1/o1/.7 Acessed date 20/8/2010.
- Astoor, A. M. and Kings, E. J. (1954). Estimation of blood glucose. J. Biochem. 56- 59.
- Babson, L. A., Greeley, L. J., Coleman, C. M. and Phillips, G. D. (1966). In vitro determination of alkaline phosphatase in serum or plasma. Clin. Chem. 12: 482-490
- Coles, E.H. (1974). Veterinary Clinical Pathology 2nd Edition W.B. Saunder Company, Philadelphia, London, Toronto Pp. 190-271
- CIOMS and ICLAS (2012). Council for International Organisations of Medical Sciences and the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science. International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animal, December 2012.
- Edwards, C. R. W., Bouchier, I. A. D, Haslet, C. and Chilvers, E.R. (1995). Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine, 17th edn. Churchill living stone, Pp-490.
- Gotto, A.M. (1997). Cholesterol management in theory and practice Circulation, 96: 4424-4425
- Gueroui, M. and Kechrid, Z.(2016). Evaluation of some biochemical parameters and brain oxidative stress in experimental rats exposed chronically to silver nitrate and the protective role of vitamin E and selenium. Toxicol. Res. 32(4) 301-309
- Ikewuchi, J, C. A.,Yovwe, A.U. E. and Osas, O. S. (2008). Effects fo Acalypha wilkesiana Muell Arg on Plasma sodium and potassium concentration of normal rabbits. Pak. J. Nutri.7 (1) 130-132
- Jendrassik, L. and Grof, P. (1938). Calorimetric method for the determination of total bilirubin, Biochem 2: 297:8
- Mayne; P. D. (1998). Clinical Chemistry. Diagnosis and Treatment 6th ed. London: Arnold International;119-204.
- Ogundaini, A.O. (2005) From Green into Medicine: Taking a lead from Nature. An inaugural lecture series 176, delivered at Oduduwa Hall, M. Obafemi Awololwo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria p. 12-15
- Oliver, B. (1959) Medicinal Plants in Nigeria, Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Ibadan p. 4
- Riley, H. P. (1963). Families of Flowering Plants of Southern Africa, University of Kenturky Press, USA, Pp. 73.
- Seebaluck, R., Gurib-Fakim, A., & Mahomoodally, F. (2015). Medicinal plants from the genus Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae)-A review of their ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry. In J. Ethnopharmacol. 15: 159; 137-157.
- Sodipo,O.A., Abdulrahman F.I., Sandabe U.K and Akinniyi F.I (2009). Effect of Solanum macrocarpum Linn. on biochemical liver function in diet-induced hypercholesterolaemic rats. Nig. Vet. J. 30 (1): 1- 8.