Effect of Seven Keys Herbal Formulation on Plasma Concentrations of Liver Transaminases of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effect of seven keys herbal formulation (Allium sativum, Xylopia aromatica, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Ficus carica, Nauclear latifolia, Starculia aurens and Combretum micranthum) on plasma concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Study Design: Twenty five (25) male albino rats of wistar strain weighing 120-160 g were used for the study. They were acclimatized to the laboratory environment for seven (7) days and were subsequently divided into five (5) groups of five rats each prior to experimentation. Group 1 and 2 served as the normal control (NC) and diabetic control (DC) respectively, and received placebo treatment with distilled water. All other groups were diabetic and treated with seven keys herbal formulation via oro-gastric intubation orally for 14 days. Group 3 served as the standard control treated with 5 mg/kg body weight of Glibenclamide. Groups 4 and 5 rats were treated with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight of seven keys to power respectively.

Place and Duration of Study: The study took place at the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria, between January and February 2014.

Methodology: Diabetes was induced in rats via single intra-peritoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate 100 mg/kg body weight, after which they were treated with standard drug and seven keys herbal formulation daily for 14 days. At the end of the fourteenth (14th) day period of treatment, the animals were subjected to overnight fast after which they were anesthetised in chloroform vapour, and blood sample were collected via cardiac puncture. The animals were subsequently euthanized in chloroform vapour, and plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activity was assayed.

Results: The result showed that the administration of seven keys to power significantly (P<0.05) lowered AST and ALT concentrations in Group 5 (19.7±5.50 and 21.20±3.04 IU/L) when compared to Group 2 (33.5±1.91 and 44.46±2.55 IU/L) to near normal as seen in Group 1 (17.46±3.94 and 17.14±2.19 IU/L) respectively.

Conclusion: This shows that the liver functions of the rats were better preserved in a dose dependent manner as indicated in the group that received a high dose of the herbal formulation. Hence the drug formulation can be recommended for use in diabetic complications especially in cases of hepatotoxicity.