Poster Presenter

Aqueous Extract of the Whole Plant of Phyllanthus Amarus Reduces Atherogenic Predictors Indices and Some Biochemical Parameters in Albino Rats
D. B. James, O. A. Owolabi, and N. Elebo
Nigeria

Aqueous extract of the whole plant of Phyllanthus amarus was assessed for atherogenic predictors indices and some biochemical effect in albino rats. Oral administration of aqueous extract at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for glucose tolerance test shows that serum glucose of treated animal significantly (P<0.05) increased at 30 min, the serum glucose concentration was higher than at zero time but decreased significantly from 30 to 180min for all the extracts doses administered which implies increase in glucose uptake. Daily administration of the extracts (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bodyweight) for 14 days on the mean value of lipoproteins, triacylglycerol, cholesterol, atherogenic risk predictors, aminotransferases, hematology, urea and creatinine showed that the extract had no significant (p > 0.05) change on the triacylglycerol (TAG) concentration for all the animals administered the extract compared with the control. The concentration of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced for all the concentrations; the reduction was found to be dose dependant. There was significant (p < 0.05) reduction in HDL–cholesterol at 200mg/body weight compared with the control. The atherogenic indices: LDL-CH/HDL-CH were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) reduced with non- significant (P > 0.05) reduction in the Log (TG/HDL-CH) in all the treated groups compared with control. The extract significantly (p < 0.05) reduced aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine aminotransfarase (ALT) and urea at 100 mg/kg bodyweight when compared with other concentration doses and that of the control. However, significantly (p < 0.05) higher concentration of ALT was observed at 200 mg/kg body weight. Significant (p < 0.05) reduction for packed cell volume (PCV) and heamoglobin observed at 200 mg/kg body weight P. amarus was within the normal range. There was no significant (p > 0.05) change on the creatinine concentration for all the animal administered the extract compared with the control. These findings may be of clinical importance to individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease.