Evaluation of the Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Solanum torvum Leaf on Liver of Treated Rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of Solanum torvum leaf on the liver of treated Wistar rats. Freshly harvested leaves of S.torvum were shade dried and ground to fine powder. 500 g of powdered plant sample was macerated in ethanol for 72 hrs. Twenty adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group 1 was the normal control and was fed normal rat feed and water only, Group II was administered with 100 mg/kg of the extract, and Group III was administered with 200 mg/kg, while Group IV was administered with 300 mg/kg b.w of extract orally. Animals were sacrificed after which blood sample was collected and tissue sample harvested and subsequently analyzed using standard procedures. The results obtained from this study show that administration of aqueous extract of S. torvum increased the activity of the liver enzymes as well as the levels of the conjugated and total bilirubin in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in enzyme activity as well as the levels of conjugated and total bilirubin recorded with 100 mg/kg of extract of S. torvum and the control. In conclusion, it can be deduced from this study that consumption of S. torvum leaf may be toxic at high doses.