HISTOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECT OF GRADED DOSES OF PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA ON THE LIVER OF MALE WISTAR RATS

Nweke Elizabeth O.*, Opara Julia K. and Okafor Igwe J.

ABSTRACT

Various parts of Phoenix dactylifera (Date palm) are used in traditional medicine to treat various disorders such as fever, abdominal troubles, etc. This study evaluated the histological and biochemical effects of graded doses of ethanolic extract of Phoenix dactylifera on the liver of adult male wistar rats. Dried fruit were pulverized, and the ethanolic extract obtained after soaking in ethanol for 48hrs. Twenty adult male wistar rats weighing between (188.00±4.89) were used for the study. They were distributed into four groups (A, B, C & D) of five animals each. Group A served as the control, groups B, C & D served as the treated groups and were orally administered 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of the extract for fourteen days. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed, blood samples collected and liver harvested for examination. There was significant increase in body weights of the rats at the end of the experiment. Significant increase was observed in serum AST level of the treated groups when compared with the control. Histological findings revealed cytoarchitectural changes in the treated groups. In conclusion, this study indicated that high doses of the P. dactylifera could result in hepatic damage.

Keywords: Phoenix dactylifera; liver enzymes; liver.