Assessment of the effects of ethanolic extracts of Annona squamosa leaves and stem on selected biochemical parameters

Abstract

Plants are rich sources of secondary metabolites with interesting biological and medicinal activities. Compounds from plants continue to play a major role in primary health care as therapeutic remedies in many developing countries. Natural remedies from medicinal plants are found to be safe and effective. Many plant species have been used to treat various ailments including Annona squamosa, its various plant parts, stem, leaves, roots, etc has been used locally to manage various ailments, hence the need to assess its safety and possible effects on some endogenous biochemical markers. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used in this experiment. The ethanolic extracts of leaves and stem of Annona squamosa were used in this research to investigate the effect on some selected biochemical parameters in healthy Wistar rats. Twenty experimental animals were randomly distributed into four (4) groups of five (5) animals each. Group A (Control) was administered appropriate volume (1ml) of distilled water, Group B was administered 50mg/kg bodyweight of Cyclophosphamide, Group C was administered 500mg/kg bodyweight of ethanolic extract of Annona squamosa leaf, Group D was administered 500mg/kg bodyweight of ethanolic extract of Annona squamosa stem. All of the doses were administered orally daily for 21 days. There was an increase in serum Alanine amino transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Amino Transaminase (AST) and Alkaline Phophatase (ALP) activity in the serum of the cyclophosphamide treated group and a subsequent decrease of these enzymes in the liver, kidney and heart. The groups administered with ethanolic extracts of Annona squamosa leaves and stem compared favourably with the control group in ALT, AST, and ALP activity in the serum, kidney, liver, and heart. The study showed that there was a significant rise in High-density Lipoprotein(HDL) concentration and albumin concentration and a decrease in Triglyceride concentration, bilirubin concentration, urea, and creatinine concentration in the groups administered 500mg/kg bodyweight of Annona squamosa leaves and stem.