The study evaluated the ability of the ethanol extract of Combretum dolichopentalum (EECD) to offer protection on rats perturbed by relatively low concentrations of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Five groups of 10 rats each were treated thus: Group 1 and group 2 constituting the normal and positive control group were maintained on food and water throughout the study. Group 3, 4, and 5 received 250, 500 mg/kg body weight of EECD and 50 mg/kg of silymarin for 28 days respectively. All groups except group 1 were exposed to 0.2 ml/kg body weight of CCl4 intraperitonealy on day 29. Serums from the rats were assayed for antioxidant and liver specific enzyme. Lipid profile and peroxidation product as well as antioxidant molecules were determined to check the oxidative as well as the liver status of the test organism. Standard biochemical methods were employed for the assay and results were subject to statistical analysis using one way ANOVA. Administration of CCl4 at 0.2 ml/kg b.w slightly altered the redox status of the rats; however, pre-treatment with the ethanol extract of C. dolichopentalum dose dependently stabilized the altered perturbation. This potential indicates that the crude EECD could be employed to correct minor oxidative imbalances as a result of CCl4 intoxication, C. dolichopentalum has been reported to possess a wide array of bioactive phytochemicals, and also reported not to present significant side effects when administered. Thus C. dolichopentalum could be a pharmacological tool needed to offer protection on liver during toxic assault from accidentally ingested toxicants such as carbon tetrachloride.

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Coconut oil supplemented diet on transferase activity specifically aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were investigated in the plasma, liver, kidney, and heart of albino rats. Control group was fed with growers mash and water only, the second group was fed with growers mash and 20% w/w coconut oil and third group was fed with 40% w/w coconut oil respectively. The rats were sacrificed after five weeks of feeding. The activity of AST and ALT was significantly (P<0.05) increased in the kidney, heart, liver and plasma of the rats fed with 20 % w/w and 40 % w/w Coconut oil supplemented diet when compared to the control group. The liver/body weight, heart/body weight ratio and mean body weight gain was significantly (p< 0.05) increased in both 20 % w/w and 4 0% w/w coconut oil fed rats relative to control rats. No significant difference (p >0.05) was observed in the kidney/body weight ratio of the albino rat. The result obtained suggests that consumption of supplemented coconut oil diet may inhibit enzyme activity and other metabolic functions.

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