Hepatic and hematologic effects of fractions of Globimetula Braunii in normal albino rats

Abstract

Globimetula braunii, a major medicinal plant used in traditional medicine in Nigeria, was evaluated for possible effects on hepatic and hematologic indices in Wister albino rats. The crude methanol extract of the plant was successively fractionated with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and water. The MeOH extract of G. braunii and its fractions were administered to albino rats at a dose of 200 mg kg-1 body weight for 14 days. Assessments of liver function enzymes aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), as well as total and direct bilirubin levels were carried out. We observed significant increases (p≤0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (Hb) in the rats treated with chloroform extract (CHCl3), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and water (H2O) fractions. The red blood cell (RBC) count increased (p<0.05) after administration of CHCl3 and EtOAc fractions while white blood cell (WBC) count increased (p<0.05) in the crude and all its fractions except butanol. Significant decreases (p<0.05) in the activities of AST and ALT enzymes were observed in rats treated with chloroform fraction, while there was elevation in the activity of ALT in the butanol fraction group. There was no difference (p>0.05) in enzyme activities in the MeOH fraction. However, the administration of other fractions to the rats, led to increases (p<0.05) in the activities of both enzymes. Total and direct bilirubin showed increases (p<0.05) in EtOAc and hexane fractions while only direct bilirubin increased (p<0.05) in the crude fraction. The present study demonstrates that G. braunii chloroform fraction has an influence on hematologic functions and liver enzyme levels in rats.