The normalizing efficacy of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), Moringa (Moringa oleifera), Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and ‘Ugwu’ (Telfairia occidentalis) in the liver enzymes of wild rats (Rattus rattus) living around a cement plant

摘要

The normalizing efficacy of roselle ( H. sabdariffa ), moringa ( M. oleifera ), ginger ( Z. officinale ) and ??gwu??( T. occidentalis ) in the liver enzymes of cement-dust exposed wild rats was evaluated. The rats were placed into seven groups, comprising 15 rats per group. Group one was tagged control 1, and rats in this group were unexposed. Group two was tagged control 2 and, together with groups three through seven, consisted of exposed rats. The ALT, AST and ALP levels in the rats were measured using standard protocols, before and after feeding the rats with 400 mg kg -1 ethanolic extracts of roselle, moringa, ginger, ??gwu??and a mixture of the plant extracts, respectively, for 180 days. The % ALT decrease in the control 1 and 2 rats that received distilled water only were 4 and 17 respectively, whereas the % ALT decrease in the rats fed with roselle, moringa, ginger, ??gwu??and mixture are 35.0, 45.0, 55.0, 50.0 and 62.0, respectively. The % decrease in the levels of AST in the control 1 and 2 rats were 5 and 17 respectively, while the % AST decrease in the rats fed with roselle, moringa, ginger, ??gwu??and mixture are 33.0, 37.0, 39.0, 33.0 and 44.0, respectively. The % ALP decrease in the control 1 and 2 rats were 1.2 and 17 respectively, while the % ALP decrease in the rats fed with roselle, moringa, ginger, ??gwu??and mixture extracts are 23.0, 28.0, 29.0, 27.0 and 30.0, respective. Significant differences (p0.05) were observed between the levels of the liver enzymes of the control and test rats, suggesting the normalizing properties of the plant extracts. This finding shows the food plants could be used to reverse health effects of cement dust exposure.? ???