Effect of Bambara Nut on Hepatic Biomarkers of Wistar Rats

Aim: This study sought to investigate the effect of Bambara nut on hepatic biomarkers of Wistar rats.

Methodology: The Songkhla 1 variety (red seed coat) of Bambara nuts were locally sourced in Obinze area of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The seeds were peeled and ground to a fine powder using a coffee grinder and extracted using soxhlet apparatus and methanol as the solvent. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were acclimatized for seven days during which they were fed ad libitum with standard feed and drinking water. They were randomly divided into four groups of six rats each. Rats in group A were administered distilled water while those in groups B, C and D were administered 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of Bambara nut extract 12 hourly for twenty-one days via oral route of administration. At the end of 28 days of treatment, animals were sacrificed under diethyl ether as anaesthesia and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. Hepatic biomarkers were determined using standard methods.

Results: Bambara nut was observed to unperturbed the activities of AST and ALT as well as the concentrations of total protein, albumin, globulin, and bilirubin. However, the extract was observed to significantly (p<0.05) increase the activity of ALP but decreased the activities of amylase and lipase when respectively compared with those in the control group.

Conclusion: Observations from this present study showed that Bambara nut is harmless to the liver. Thus, it is not hepatotoxic.