The Effect of Aqueous Extract of Vernonia Amygdalina (Bitter Leaf) on Antioxidants and the Liver of Rabbits on High Cholesterol Diet

Aims: To determine the effect of V. amygdalina on the levels of antioxidants and the liver of rabbits fed on a atherogenic diet.

Study Design: Prospective experimental study.

Place and Duration of study: Study lasted 14 weeks at Department of Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methodology: Eighteen male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups comprising control, high cholesterol diet and high cholesterol diet plus 200mg/kg of aqueous extract of V. amygdalina. The animals were fed a normal animal chow, or a diet supplemented by 0.5% cholesterol and 1% methionine for twelve weeks. Subsequently, serum was obtained for liver function tests. Samples of the liver of the animals were obtained for antioxidant tests and histology.

Results: Aspartate transaminase was significantly elevated in atherogenic diet only group compared to animals on normal diet. There was also no statistically significant difference across the three groups in the alanine transaminase values. Superoxide dismutase were significantly reduced in animals that were administered extract. Malondialdehyde was not statistically different across the three groups.

The histology of the liver of the animals on high cholesterol diet (with and without extract administration) revealed similar microscopic presence of fatty infiltration of the liver.

Conclusion: The use of high cholesterol diet for a duration of twelve weeks in rabbits resulted in significant increased relative liver weight, aspartate transaminase, superoxide dismutase and hepatic microvesicular steatosis. Furthermore, the use of 200mg/kg of aqueous extract of V. amygdalina had ameliorative effect on the level of superoxide dismutase. It did not have a measurable effect on the malondialdehyde, liver enzymes and liver histology.