Effect of Cola pachycarpa and Cola lepidota fruit juices on liver function parameters and histopathological indices of alloxan-induced adult male diabetic Wistar rats

Abstract

Background: Diversity is a potential source for immense untapped material wealth in the forms of food, medicine and other amenities. One of these neglected plants is Monkey Cola.
 Objective: The study evaluated the effect of Cola pachycarpa and Cola lepidota fruit juices on the liver function parameters (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase & total protein) and histopathological indices (liver tissue) of alloxan- induced diabetic rats.
 Materials and methods: Fresh Cola pachycarpa and Cola lepidota fruits were obtained from local markets and home farms within communities in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo State and Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia State. The fruits were processed into raw and undiluted fruit juice using an electric juicer. Forty healthy adult albino male rats with an average weight of 239.35g were randomized into eight groups, six experimental and two control groups, based on body weight. All the rats in each group were induced with alloxan to become diabetic. Samples of blood were collected for use as basal biochemical and hematological indices as well as after induction with diabetes. Standard diabetic drug, glibenclamide and Cola fruit juices (pachycarpa and lepidota) were administered differently and in varied concentrations (5ml/kg and 10ml/kg body weight). The experiment lasted for 21days after which the animals were sedated with mild anesthetic and sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The liver of the animals were excised, packaged, labeled and stored for subsequent chemical analysis and histopathology. Data was analyzed statistically using IBM-SPSS (Special Package for Social Sciences) version 20 software for means and standard deviation.
 Results: Monkey Cola fruit juices significantly (p < 0.05) decreased alkaline phosphatase (28.95%, CPV1, Group that received Cola pachycarpa very rough epicarp fruit juice at 5ml/kg body weight), aspartate transaminase (29.81%, CPV1) comparative to those of the standard diabetic drug (29.58% and 17.58% respectively). Histopathological studies indicated abnormal hepatocyte structure in only the untreated group of rats. Rats that received standard diabetic drug reported significant (p < 0.05) better liver architecture from other treatment groups, though damage to the liver was not noticed in rats that received the fruit juices. All the Cola juices especially those administered at 10mls/kg body weight impacted positively in improving body weight, haematological, biochemical and histopathological indices in diabetes control.
 Conclusion: Further research could be done to establish its prospect as an anti-diabetic agent.