Effect of Black Seed (Nigella sativa) and Uziza (Piper guineense) Leaf on the Histology of the Liver of Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Aim: This study was aimed at investigating the effects of aqueous extracts of both Nigella sativa and Piper guineense on the liver enzymes; alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Also the effect of Nigella sativa and Piper guineense extracts on the histology of the liver of Wistar rat was also studied. Materials and Methods: A total of twenty five Wistar rats were used for the study. The animals were grouped into five groups, each having five animals. They were induced with sucrose and margarine to cause high sugar levels and hyperlipidemia respectively except the positive control group which was fed normal feed. The groups were: the positive control group, the negative control group which were induced without treatment, the uziza leaf group which were induced and were treated with 2 ml of aqueous extract of uziza leaf, the black seed group which were induced and were treated with 2 ml of aqueous extract of black seed, and the black seed and uziza group which were induced and were treated with 2ml of aqueous extract of black seed and 2 ml of aqueous extract of uziza leaf.  Results: The result showed that the extracts decreased the ALT and AST and ALP activities in the rats in a time dependent manner with highest decrease obtained on the third week of treatment with the extracts.  The ALT activity (U/L) on the third week of treatment showed for the, negative control (64.48 ± 0.22), uziza leaf (28.82 ± 0.12), black seed (32.65 ± 0.02), black seed and uziza leaf (16.04 ± 0.02) (p≤0.05). The decrease in activity for AST levels (U/L) on the third week of treatment, showed for the negative control (58.00 ± 0.02), uziza leaf (11.00 ± 0.01), black seed (12.00 ± 0.02), black seed and uziza leaf (8.00 ± 0.02). Conclusion: It can be concluded that both uziza leaf and black seed have hepatoprotective effect on the liver.