Biochemical Assessment of the Effect of Aqueous Leaf Extract Of Euphorbia Heterophylla Linn on Hepatocytes of Rats

Abstract

In recent years, the search for biologically active compounds from Euphorbia heterophylla in the treatment of different diseases has always been of great interest to researchers. In this present study, we investigated the effect of the aqueous leaf extract of the plant on hepatocytes using animal models. A total of twenty (20) wistar albino rats (150-240g) were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups (A, B, C & D) comprising five rats per group. The control group was administered deionised water while the treatment groups were orally administered doses of the aqueous leaf extract of the plant(100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg body weights) by means of a gavage for two weeks. Total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) were the biochemical parameters assessed in this study. The results showed no significant difference(p>0.05 in the levels of the aforementioned parameters. The aqueous leaf extract of the plant indicated the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and steroids, but anthracene derivatives were absent. The results obtained in this study, therefore, justify the traditional use of the plant for food and medicinal purposes respectively.

Detection and Quantification of Major Phytochemical Markers for Standardization of Talinum Portulacifolium, Gomphrena Serrata, Alternanthera Sessilis and Euphorbia Heterophylla by HPLC

“…The standardization parameters favoring the quality control of aqueous extract of leaves, studied were moisture content 11.79% and ash value 2.57%, moreover, the plant was supposed to possess high carbohydrate content with more number of reducing sugars and rich nutrient status. 54 The retention times of both kaempferol and quercetin detected in the plant extracts were comparable to standard drugs. The developed method offers rapid detection and quantification of kaempferol and quercetin in plant extracts and therefore can be used as a reference for carrying out the standardization studies.…”

“…Euphorbia heterophylla L, Euphorbiaceae, is a branched shrub belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, widely distributed in the South Asian continent. The plant was reported for activities like antimicrobial and anticancer activity, 36 hepatoprotective activity, 37 anti-diabetic activity, 38 effect of plant extract on kidney, liver and pancreatic functions was reported. 39 Stigmasterol and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid were isolated from the leaf extracts showed good activity against xanthine oxidase enzymes, 40 diterpenoids were isolated from roots.…”

Lactation suppression effect of aqueous seed extract of Aframomum melengueta on female albino rats

“…They may become the base for development of a medicine, a natural blue print for the development of new drugs or a phytomedicine to be used for the treatment of diseases (Prasad, Izam & Maksudur, 2012). Therefore, evaluating their marginal significance can help to understand the worth of plant species in different ecological conditions (Apiamu et al, 2013). Plant remedies (both single plant and multi-herbal preparations) are used since ancient times, even though the mechanisms of action, toxicity and efficacy of very few of them have been evaluated scientifically (Omale & Emmanuel, 2010).…”

“…The need to use medicinal plants as alternatives to orthodox medicines in the provision of primary health care cannot be over-emphasized. More so herbal medicines have received much attention as sources of lead compounds since they are considered as time tested and relatively safe for human use and are environment friendly (Apiamu et al, 2013). The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of traditional medicine provided they are proven to be efficacious and safe (Omale & Emmanuel, 2010).…”

“…Herbal products from medicinal plants are preferred because of less testing time, higher safety, efficacy, cultural acceptability and lesser side effects (Prasad et al, 2012). They are also cheap, easily available and affordable and therefore the need to look inwards to search for herbal medicinal plants with the aim of validating the ethno-medical use and characterization of compounds which will be added to the potential lists of drugs (Apiamu et al, 2013).…”