ATPases in the colon of rats fed a Nigerian like diet supplemented with folate and bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina)

Abstract

This study examined the effect of a wholly compounded Nigerian-like diet supplemented with folic acid and bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) on the activity of ATPases in early colon carcinogenesis. It was also aimed to determine if any of the observed effect(s) of folic acid and bitter leaf is/are potentiated before the onset of colon carcinogenesis or also occur during the process. One hundred and twenty eight Wistar albino rats of 120g ± 0.3g were used for this study and were divided into two groups. Animals in the first group were fed with the wholly compounded food supplemented with folic acid and bitter leaf before being exposed to Cycads for two weeks (the pretreated rats) while animals in the second group were fed with Cycads for two weeks before they were exposed to the wholly compounded food supplemented with folic acid and bitter leaf (the post-treated rats). The animals in each group were subdivided into two diet classes. Animals in one group were fed with wholly compounded normal diet (ND) which served as the control class while animals in the second group were fed with wholly compounded Nigerian-like diet (NLD) which was low in protein and fat but high in carbohydrate and fiber, The animals in each diet class were further distributed into four subgroups. In each subclass, one group received the diet alone, another group received the diet and folic acid, and another group received the diet and bitter leaf, while the fourth group received the diet, folic acid and bitter leaf. The animals were given food and water ad libitum and were force fed with folic acid, bitter leaf and cycads. Such that they consumed 0.5mg/kg body weight of folic acid, bitter leaf and Cycads. Exposing the colon of rats to bitter leaf and folic acid significantly (P<0.05) increased the activity of Na +-K + ATPase but significantly (P<0.05) decreased magnesium ATPase activity and calcium ATPase activity. These results suggest that folic acid and bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) may protect against colon cancer before and after its onset.