BIOCHEMICAL IMPLICATIONS OF ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF EXTRACTS OF Acalypha wilkesiana LEAVES IN RABBITS

Abstract

Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the biochemical implications of oral administration of extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves, using some serum parameters, in normal experimental rabbits. A total of eighteen (18) rabbits were randomized into three groups (A, B and C) of six animals each and treated with aqueous (A) and ethanol (B) extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana leaves. The extracts were administered orally at a dose of 300mg/kg body weight for a period of twenty-one (21) days. Group C animals served as control.Data are represented as Mean ± S.E.M (n = 6). Significance of Difference was tested by ANOVA at P < 0.05.Administration of the aqueous or ethanol extract, at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight, to normal rabbits resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) lower plasma glucose concentration. Treatment with the aqueous or ethanol extract resulted in a non-significantly (P > 0.05) higher serum albumin, HDL-cholesterol and a non-significantly (P > 0.05) lower serum total protein, globulin, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, as compared with the control, in normal rabbits. However, treatment with the ethanol extract resulted in a non-significantly (P > 0.05) higher total cholesterol, while treatment with the aqueous extract resulted in a non-significantly (P > 0.05) lower total cholesterol of the normal rabbits, as compared with the control. This shows that, the aqueous or ethanol extracts have hypoglycaemic and hypocholesterolemic effects on the rabbits.