The Effect of Oral Intake of Sodium Benzoate on the Activity of Liver Marker Enzymes and Electrolyte Level of the Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

The in vivo effect of oral administration of varying concentrations (150, 250, 500 mg/kg body wt) of sodium benzoate (a known preservative in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry) on serum liver marker enzyme activity and electrolyte levels of wistar albino rats were investigated. The oral intake was administered at 24 hour intervals for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The groups were labeled; control (group 1), 7days (group 2), 14days (group 3), 21 days (group 4) and 28days (group 5). The rats were fed normal diet ad libitum and blood sample for the determination was taken at the end of the duration. For serum electrolytes, the result obtained for sodium benzoate concentrations administered showed significant (p≤0.05) increase in sodium (Na+) for groups 3, 4 and 5 for 150 mg/kg body wt. and group 2, 3, 4 and 5 for 250 mg/kg body wt and 500mg/kg body wt. of experimental rats. Chloride (Cl-) showed significant (p≤0.05) increase at all administered groups for 250 mg/kg and 500mg/kg. Potassium (K+) was only significantly increased at group 5 for 500mg/kg body wt. while for bicarbonate (HCO3) it showed no significant change in all treated groups. Values were all compared to the control. For liver marker enzymes, sodium benzoate significantly increased (p≤0.05) aspartate transaminase (AST) activity of experimental rats in groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 of 250 mg/kg body wt. and 500mg/kg body wt., alanine transaminase (ALT) showed significant increase (p≤0.05)  in group 4 and 5 for 250 mg/kg body wt and group 2, 3, 4 and 5 for 500 mg/kg body wt., alkaline phosphatase (ALP) showed significant (p≤0.05) increase in group 2, 3, 4 and 5 for 500 mg/kg body wt.These findings suggest possible changes in blood chemistry due to the preservative.