Abstract
NUTRIENT PROFILE AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF Ricinodendron Heudelotii SEED ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL INDICES IN WISTAR RATS
Obi-Abang M.*, Enyievi P.B. and Ekpenyong J.E.
ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants in folklore medicine serves as food to meet the nutritional requirements as well as for therapy because of affordability and safety. The 28-day study investigated nutrient profile and dietary supplementation of Ricinodendron heudelotii seed on some biochemical indices using Wistar rats. Twenty-four Wistar rats divided into 4 parallel groups of 6 rats each: Group 1 which served as the control received only 125g of stock diet + 63ml of water; Group 2 received 125g of rat pellet + 7ml of garlic oil + 63ml of water; Group 3 was fed with 125g of rat pellet + 7ml of garlic oil + 7ml of extract + 63ml of water while Group 4 had 125g of rat pellet + 7ml of extract + 63ml of water. Results obtained from biochemicals assays showed that rats in group 4 indicated significant (P < 0.05) increase in ALT activity compared to the other groups. Similarly, the LDL-c and HDL-c in groups 2 and 3 rats were higher (P < 0.05) than those of groups 1 and 4. Comparatively, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme did not differ significantly (p>0.05) among groups, however glutathione (GSH) in group 1 shows a statistically significant difference relative to the other groups.The study therefore conclude that the seed extract possesses antioxidant and hepatoprotective function with no deleterious effects on blood cell counts and hemoglobin concentration.
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