Biochemistry Division, Department of
Chemical Sciences, Niger Delta University,
PMB 71, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State,
Nigeria.
*Corresponding
author: E-mail:
tebebuddy@yahoo.com
Received: 1 June
2008
Revised accepted: 6 October 2008
Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, February
2009; 8(1):
27-31
Abstract
Purpose:
To study the effect of the crude methanol extract of
Garcinia kola seed on lipopolysaccharide
(LPS)-induced tissue damage in rats
Methods:
A total of 16 rats were split equally into four
treatment groups: Normal controls, LPS-treated only,
LPS-treated + 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) extract,
LPS-treated + 250 mg/kg b.w. extract. LPS was
administered via the intraperitoneal route once and the
extract orally administered to the rats for 14 days.
Indices of liver and kidney function were later
assessed.
Results:
The results showed that LPS caused marked elevations in
the blood levels of alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate
aminotransaminase, creatinine, urea, nitric oxide and a
significant reduction in the catalase activity in both
liver and kidney. The thiobarbituric acid reactive
species were also increased in liver. These levels were
brought to near control values when the rats were fed
with the extract. The changes were more pronounced in
the rats given the 250 mg/kg b.w. of the extract.
Conclusion:
The data suggest that Garcinia kola significantly
reduced the tissue damage induced by LPS which may be
dose-dependent. This is probably due to the interaction
of the various phytochemicals with LPS and/or to the
fact that the extract possesses significant antioxidant
properties.
Keywords:
Garcinia kola, lipopolysaccharide, creatine,
urea, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity
