Effect of Terminalia catappa Seed Extract on Liver Enzymes and Lipid Profile in Male Wistar Rat

The traditional use of plant-derived natural substances has continued to gain traction in the last few decades and has gradually become the mainstay of human pharmacotherapy. The present study evaluated the effect of Terminalia catappa seed extract on the lipid profile and serum liver enzymes of male Wistar rats. Fresh, ripe fruits of T. catappa were sourced locally from the University of Port Harcourt and the dried seeds were extracted using methanol and used for the study. Fifteen (15) male Wistar rats (160 – 180g) were grouped into three (3) of five (5) animals per group and used for the study. Group I served as the control and received distilled water whiles groups II and II received 500 and 1000mg/kg of ethanolic seed extract of T. catappa (TCE) by oral gavage for twenty-eight (28) days. Animals were anaesthetized, blood was collected by cardiac puncture and analyzed for serum liver enzymes: aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine Transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lipid profile: total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) using standard laboratory methods. Results obtained from the study indicate that serum ALT and LDL were significantly reduced among rats that received TEC compared to the control (p<0.05). The study concludes that TEC exhibited possible hepatoprotective properties and modulation of lipid profile and hence may be effective against liver injury and protection against cardiovascular and neurogenerative diseases.