Original Research Article
Year: 2014 | Month: January | Volume: 4 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 69-73
Hepatoprotective Effects of Carotenoid on the Liver Cells of Adult Wistar Rats
Ezejindu D N1*, Ihentuge C J2, Ezejindu C N3
1Dept. of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
2Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Imo State University Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
3Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu Abia State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author: Iyanam Victory Edet
ABSTRACT
This work focuses primarily on the hepatoprotective effects of carotenoid on the liver cells of wistar rats, following low and high consumption. Twenty wistar rats weighting between 150 – 210kg were used. The animals were divided into four groups of five animals each. The groups were designated as A,B,C & D. Group A served as the control and received 0.35ml of distilled water; the experimental groups B,C & D received 0.4ml, 0.5ml and 0.6ml of carotenoid respectively for a period of twenty one days. The drugs were administered orally using intubation method between the hours of 12 - 3pm daily. Twenty hours after the last administration, the animals were weighed, anaesthetized under the influence of chloroform vapour and dissected. Liver tissues were removed, weighed and trimmed down to a size of 3mm x 3mm and fixed in zenkers fluid for histological studies. The final body weight of the experimental groups increased significantly (P<0.001) relative to the control. The histological result showed that there were no hepathological lesions in the experimental groups compared with the control.
The present study indicated that consumption of carotenoid at low and high dosage may not put the liver at risks of adverse histopathological conditions.
Key words:Hepatoprotective, Carotenoid. Liver weight, Body weight, Wistar rats.