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Aim:The current study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of aqueous extract of Adansonia digitata fruit pulp on carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) induced liver damage in rats. Place and Duration of Study: Methodology: A. digitata fruit pulp was extracted by maceration using water; and a concentration of 100 mg/ml was used. Two doses of the aqueous extract (200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) and Livoline Sa'id et al.; AJBGMB, 3(3): 12-21, 2020; Article no.AJBGMB.54697 13 (25 mg/kg) were used to investigate their hepatoprotective effects on CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Results: The two doses of the plant extract showed dose-dependent hepatoprotective effect on CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity, as evident by the significant reduction (P<0.05) in serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin along with the improved histopathological liver sections compared to CCl 4treated animals. Conclusion: Due to its hepatoprotective potentials, A. digitata extract may be used to develop standard treatment drugs against some liver disorders when it is further evaluated through extensive researches. Original Research Article

Background: Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) belong to the family of Cyperaceae and the order of Commelinalis. It has been existing for more than 4,000 years ago. Objective: To determine the nutritional composition (protein, fat, fiber, ash, moisture and carbohydrate) of nut, to extract and characterize oil from varieties of tiger nuts, to determine the mineral elements presence in the nut. Study Design: A descriptive research design was adopted by this study to determine the nutritional composition (protein, fat, fiber, ash, moisture and carbohydrate) of nut, to extract and characterize oil from varieties of tiger nuts and to determine the mineral elements presence in the nut. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted at Biochemistry Department, Bayero University Kano, between April, 2019 to September, 2019. Methods: The Proximate compositions were determined using the method describe by Association of official analytical chemist’s, while Carbohydrate were determined by difference. The physicochemical properties were determined using the method describe by American oil Chemist’s society and Mineral composition were determined. Results: The proximate composition of the yellow variety was moisture (9.48%), ash (2.07%), fat (33.5%), protein (6.11%), crude fibre (17.5%) and carbohydrate (31.2%). Corresponding values of the brown variety was moisture (9.62%), ash (2.76%), fat (34.2%), protein (6.93%), crude fibre (15.3%) and carbohydrate (30.9%) respectively. The extracted oil has a golden colour and a nutty taste. The saponification, acid, peroxide, iodine and free fatty acid values of the yellow variety were found to be 210.8±4.28, 3.17±0.64, 1.00±0.52, 78.7±13.1 and 0.40±0.21 and the saponification, acid, peroxide, iodine and free fatty acid values of the yellow variety were also found to be 212.2±4.92, 3.36±0.56, 1.06±0.75, 76.5±14.6 and 0.42±0.04 and was not significantly (P> 0.05) different between th yellow and brown varieties respectively. The mineral element (mg/100g) of the brown variety is Mg 133.67, P 527.33, K 957.67, Ca 394, Cu 2.0 and Fe 1.86. Corresponding values for the yellow variety are Mg 118.13, P 159.61, K 384.33, Ca 152, Cu 2.0 and Fe 1.04. Lead and Cadmium were not detected in both varieties. Conclusion: These results indicate that tiger nut tuber oil could be a good source of edible oil, highly nutritive and can provide a lot of energy like some starchy food.

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The study aimed to determine the effect of a high dosage of codeine-containing cough syrup administration on some biochemical parameters of the liver in albino rats. Codeine at 80 mg/kg/day, 160 mg/kg/day, 240 mg/kg/day, 320 mg/kg/day cough syrup were administered orally to albino rats for 21 days, biochemical parameters were analyzed for the activities of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Bilirubin, Total protein and Albumin. Results obtained revealed that a high dosage of codeine administration significantly increased plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin and albumin while it reduced total protein level when compared with the control rats. The study confirmed the risk of increased hepatotoxicity due to a high dosage of codeine administration. Although codeine is reported to be effective in pain management, its toxicity should be kept in mind.