[01] Friday O. Uhegbu, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences Abia State University, Nigeria. [02] Chinedu Imo, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences Abia State University, Nigeria. [03] Amadike E. Ugbogu, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences Abia State University, Nigeria.

The effect of aqueous extract of Piper guineense seeds on some liver enzymes, antioxidant enzymes and some hematological parameters in albino rats was investigated. Thirty female albino rats, aged 7 weeks and weighing between 128g to 142g were randomly placed into three groups of 10 animals each. Group1 served as control and received no extract except 5ml of physiological saline as a placebo, while group 2 and 3 received the aqueous seed extract intraperitonally with 5ml of physiological saline as the vehicle at 10mg/kg body weight and 20mg/kg body weight respectively. Results show that the liver enzymes: alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) decreased (p≤ 0.05) significantly. Catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase also decreased significantly. ALT, AST and ALP decreased from 45.25 ± 0.31 to 36.69 ± 0.33 (IU/L); 33.10 ± 0.43 to 27.48 ± 0.27(IU/L) and 105.10 ± 0.24 to 89.19 ± 0.41 (IU/L) respectively. CAT and GSH decreased from 0.33 ± 0.11 to 0.17 ± 0.12 (IU/L) and 38.08 ± 0.31 to 33.07 ± 0.27 (IU/L) respectively. Red blood cell count, white blood cell count and hemoglobin concentration increased (p≤ 0.05) significantly from 241.33 ± 2.93 x 106 to 298.10 ± 4.28 x 106 µ/l; 129.67 ± 2.10 x 103 to 194.67 ± 4.82 x 103 µ/l and 10.33 ± 0.20 to 12.04 ± 0.22 g/dl respectively. The effect of the extract on these parameters is dose dependent. These findings are of clinical importance. Nursing mothers in the South East of Nigeria are usually placed on diets prepared with this spice. It is believed this spice aid in the fast return of the uterine muscles to the original shape and effect increase in the flow of the nursing mothers’ breast milk.

Medicinal Plant, Spice, Hepatoprotective, Antioxidant, Seeds, Piper Guineense

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