Biochemical Assessment of the Effects of Aqueous Stem Bark Extract of Anogeissus leiocarpus on Wistar Strain Rats

Abstract

Aqueous stem bark extract of Anogeissus leiocarpus was phytochemically screened indicating the presence of alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinones, saponins and phenols. Antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extract using Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae as test organisms showed varying zones of inhibition with 10 mm zone of inhibition exhibited by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration of extract were 16 µg/ml and 32 µg/ml respectively. Treatment of experimental animals with the aqueous stem bark extract for a period of six weeks and subsequent assessment of its effect biochemically revealed that alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), acid phosphatase (ACP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were significantly higher than normal suggesting certain degree of liver injury. Glucose, cholesterol, total and direct bilirubin as well as total protein levels were significantly higher than normal values with respect to animals treated with 500mg/kg body weight suggesting a dose dependent effect of the extract on the animals. Urea and creatinine levels were slightly lower than normal. Overall, the result of this study showed that the effect of the extract was more pronounced on the liver than the kidney as depicted by the photomicrographs.