Abstract

Obiefule Jennifer Chidera*, Prof Oze Gabriel, Peter Akwukwaegbu, Dr Uche Mercylyn Ezinne, Asiegbu Fitzgerald

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of the effects of aqueous extract of some common traditional spices (CTS) on hypercholesterol-induced oxidative stress in Wistar-albino rats was done using standard analytical methods, involving GC-MS, Randox Laboratory Biochemical kits and spectrophotometer. The acute toxicity studies were carried out. Thirty-five Wistar albino rats weighing 100-150 g were purchased and housed in seven plastic cages of five rats per group. The rats were fed with normal rat chow. The group fed with chow and normal saline constituted the group 1(normal control), group 2 was administered 300 mg/kg body weight CTS extract only, while group 3 (Negative control) was induced oxidative stress using 30mg/kg body weight cholesterol in coconut oil. Group 4 was the standard and treated with 3mg/kg body weight atorvastatin. Groups 5,6, and 7 were treated with 100, 200 and 400mg/kg body weight CTS after stress induction respectively. All the treatments lasted for 21 days. Phytochemical analysis of the CTS extract revealed 11 bioactive compounds. For the negative control,there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the serum levels of the biomarkers of the liver, kidney , haematology and lipid profile parameters such as total proteins , AST,ALT,ALP urea,creatinine, K+,C1–, and total cholesterol. TAG, LDL-c, VLDL-c, MDA, LDH, CPK, TWBC and PLTs, when compared with the saline control groups. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in GSH, GPx, SOD, catalase and Hb levels of the hypercholesterolemic rats. However, the administration of CTS extract restored the serum levels of these parameters to their approximate saline control concentrations. The decrease in the biomarkers were statistically significant (p<0.05).There was no significant (p>0.05) increase in the serum Na+ and HCO³- concentrations for the studied groups.Histopathological examinations of the liver,heart and kidney cells showed normal histology in the control rats, and cellular distortions of the liver and kidney sections in the hypercholesterolemic rats.But the test groups which received the CTS extracts showed normal histology of the hepatocytes and renal cells.The study indicates that the CTS leaf extracts clearly ameliorated the oxidative damage caused by the hypercholesterol in the liver, kidney and the cardiovascular tissues of the rats. This could justify their use in local settings to treat stress related ailments.