VERNONIA AMYGDALINA, A LOCAL ANTI MALARIAL LEAVES EXTRACT INHIBIT LIPID PEROXIDATION AND EXHIBIT HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND NEPHROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS RESULTING FROM ARTESUNATE ADMINISTRATION IN RATS

摘要

With the common practice in poor Africa endemic area to take local antimalaria herbs in combination with orthodoxmedicine and the increasing resistance to anti-malarial drugs, this study investigates the roles of methanol leaves extractof Vernonia amygdalina, in combination with artesunate. 24 male wistar rats weighing 190g were randomly grouped,administered therapeutic doses of artesunate and extract. Plasma total protein, urea, creatinine. Alanine. aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were determined usinginternational standardized methods. Percentage inhibition of lipid peroxidation, Malondialdehyde, (MDA), reducedglutathione (GSH) levels were determined spectrophotometrically. Results shows that extract conferred above 50% cellprotection as it inhibited lipid peroxidation ,decreases MDA level significantly (P?0.05) and increases GSH levelsignificantly (P?0.05) compared with controls, Artesunate alone and combined treatment of artesunate and extract.Plasma total protein concentrations were significantly (P?0.05) increased in all treatment groups . Artesunate alonesignificantly increased (P?0.05) plasma ALT, ALP and liver GGT activities while the combined treatments showed amodulatory effect as these activities were significantly decreased (P?0.05) nearly to control levels .Also, artesunate elicitsignificant (P?0.05) increases in plasma urea and creatinine concentrations which were attenuated to control levels in thecombined treatment.Results are indicative of extract ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation, boost GSH formation, increasesantioxidant status, shows hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects.