Hepatic and Renal Biochemical Profile of Albino Rats Exposed to Chloroform and Methanol Leaf Extracts of Portulaca oleracea Linn.

Abstract

Portulaca oleracea Linn. is among the medicinal plants used globally in the treatment of diseases and management of health challenges. The dearth of information on the long term effect of Portulaca oleracea on hepatic and renal toxicity prompted this study. The study investigated the subchronic effect of the oral administration of chloroform leaf extracts of Portulaca oleracea (CLEPO) and methanol leaf extracts of Portulaca oleracea (MLEPO) on plasma activity of some enzymes (ALT, ALP & AST) and levels of other biochemical parameters such as blood electrolytes, total protein, albumin, bilirubin, urea and creatinine in male albino rats. One hundred and twelve (112) animals were randomly divided into seven (7) groups of sixteen ( 16) rats each. Group A (Control) received 0.5ml/kg of 20% Tween 80 (vehicle), Groups B, C & D received 125, 250 & 500

Haematological and Biochemical Profile of Wistar Rats Exposed to Chloroform Stem Extract of Portulaca oleracea Linn. (Purslane)

“…A comparison of the acute oral toxicity testing of P. oleracea leaves in the previous studies [6,7] with P. oleracea stem in the present study, reveals that the chloroform extracts of both plant parts are not toxic since they were well tolerated by the animals at the maximum dose of 5000 mg/kg.…”

“…The result of this study also shows that the chloroform stem extract of P. oleracea had no significant effect on the biochemical profile of exposed rats at the different doses and duration used in the study, unlike the leaf counterpart which altered the ALP and AST levels at different doses and duration; a significant decrease in AST level at the dose of 250mg/kg on Day 28 and a significant increase in ALP at the dose of 500mg/kg on Days 14 and 60 [7]. This finding suggests that the stem extract may lack the potential to reduce the plasma levels of the enzymes -AST, ALT and ALP by stabilizing the cell membrane of the source, in order to prevent the seepage of these enzymes, even in the absence of injury.…”

“…Injury to liver cell membrane leads to the release of cytosol enzymes such as AST, ALT and ALP into the blood. ALT is more specific to the liver because AST may also be elevated in diseases affecting other organs, such as the heart or muscles [7]. Similarly, ALP is abundant in several organs including liver, bone, kidney, intestine, and placenta and its major increase is associated with liver and bone dysfunctions [33].…”

“…Different parts of the plant have been associated with various physiological properties. Some studies have been carried out exclusively on the leaves [6][7][8][9], stem + leaves [10,11], aerial parts [12,13] and whole plant [14,15] to establish their physiological effects; but to the best of our knowledge, none was done solely on the stem. The study was therefore designed to investigate the effect of oral administration of chloroform stem extract of Portulaca oleracea (CSEPO) on haematological and biochemical parameters in male wistar rats.…”

Haematological profile of albino rats exposed to polar leaf extracts of Portulaca oleracea Linn.

“…This assertion is supported by the work of Ezeabara et al [35] which demonstrated that the phytochemicals and nutrients found in various parts of Portulaca oleracea were in different concentrations. In our previous study carried out to investigate the hepatic and renal toxicity of chloroform (non-polar) and aqueous methanol(polar) leaf extracts of Portulaca oleracea on biochemical profile of albino rats, it was found that both extracts did not cause toxicity to the liver and kidney parameters assessed [36].…”