Virgin coconut oil mitigates the hepatotoxic effect of atrazine and diabetes on liver enzymes in male Wistar rats

Titilope Helen Olatunbosun 1, *, Jessica Utibe David 1Helen Udo Pete 1, Uduak Akpan Okon 1, Ezekiel Etim Ben 1, Idorenyin Udo Umoren 1Barinua Kekii Gbaranor 2 and Ifiok Ekanem Emmanuel 1

1 Department of Physiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
2  Department of Human Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Rivers State, South-South, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 22(01), 1557–1567
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2024.22.1.1168
Publication history: 
Received on 06 March 2024; revised on 19 April 2024; accepted on 22 April 2024
 
Abstract: 
To assess the hepatoprotective action of Virgin Coconut Oil(VCO) in atrazine administered rats. Adult male Wistar rats weighing 180-200 g body weight were separated into two major experimental groups. 35 rats in the test group were divided into five sub-groups of 7rats: Subgroup (SG)1,2 and 3 received 10 ml/kg body weight  of distilled water, 10 ml/kg VCO and 123 mg/kg Atrazine (ATZ) respectively, SG 4 was diabetic control group and SG 5 was diabetic group treated with 10 ml/kg of VCO for 2weeks, after which the animals were sacrificed and blood collected for analysis. 35 rats for the recovery group were also divided into 5 subgroups of 7 rats; SG1 and 2 received 10 ml/kg body weight of distilled water and 10 ml/kg of VCO, SG 3, 4 and 5 received 123 mg/kg of ATZ for 2 weeks. After the first 2 weeks, SG 1,2,3 continued the initial treatment while the rats in SG4 and SG5 were fed with 10 ml/kg of VCO and10 ml/kg of distilled water respectively. After 2 weeks, all the animals were sacrificed and blood collected for analysis. We observed a significant increase in the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of the diabetes control and diabetes treated with VCO groups compared to the normal control. In the groups administered with atrazine, the result showed elevations in serum AST and ALT. With VCO,a significant decrease in ALT levels when compared to the ATZ continued group was observed, further potentiating the hepatoprotective ability of VCO.
 
Keywords: 
Atrazine; AST; ALT; Diabetes; Liver enzymes; Virgin Coconut Oil
 
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