Hepatoprotective

This study is aimed at investigating the effects of Aframomum melegueta aqueous extract on liver enzymes of adult wistar rats. Twenty healthy wistar rats weighing between 180-215kg were used. They were divided into four groups (A, B, C & D) of five animals each. Group A served as the control and received 0.35ml of distilled water; the experimental groups B, C & D were orally administered with 0.55ml, 0.65ml and 0.75ml of aqueous extract of Aframomum melegueta respectively for twenty eight days. The control A and experimental groups were weighed, anaesthetized under chloroform vapour and dissected. Liver tissues were removed and weighed. Blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture using sterile syringes and needles. Blood for serum preparation was collected into sterile plain tubes without anticoagulant. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined using randox kit method. The final body weight of the experimental groups increased significantly (P˂0.001) with the control. The relative liver weight of the experimental groups (B, C & D) statistically increased (P˂0.001) relative to the control. The activity levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the experimental groups (B, C & D) are similar with the control (A). This study therefore suggest that consumption of Aframomum melegueta aqueous extract at low and high doses did not cause biochemical alteration in the liver enzymes.