ABSTRACT

 The hepatoprotective effect of Telfairia occidentalis (ugu seed) on alcohol induced toxicity in winster rats was studied. Alcohol being most commonly consumed drink is generally non-toxic at minimal dose. However, too much consumption causes severe and fetal hepatic damage in experimental animals. Telfairia occidentalis (ugu seed) is an edible vegetable commonly consumed by human. Twenty winster rats weighing between 95-1 lOg were used for the study. The rats were divided into four groups (A,B,C and D) consisting of five rats per group. Group A receive only distilled water. Group B receive only alcohol, while Group C and D receive 7.5% and 15% alcohol respectively with 0.8g methanol extract of Telfairia occidentalis mixed with normal rats chow for ten days after two weeks of acclimatization. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the ten days; the levels of the serum liver function enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, total protein and total bilirubin) were accessed. For ALT, Group B with value 125.50+3.0 showed significantly (pLI1O.05) different compared to Group A with value 104.50+5.0.Group C and D with values 123.75±1.50 and87.00+5.10 respectively showed significant (pO.O5) different compared to Group A. For AST, Group B with 73.50±4.57 showed significantly (pflO.05) increase compared to the Group A with values 57.25 ±1.71.Group C and D with va1ues86.75±2.63 and 103.50.± 3.69 respectively shows significantly (pO.O5) different compared with the control. For ALP, Group B with value 55.00 +1.83 showed significantly (pL1O.O5) increase compared to Group A with values 35.50+4.20.Group C and D did not show any significant difference (P>0.05) compared with the control. For TBIL,Group B with values 1.98±0.62 showed no significantly (p>O.05) different compared to Group A with value 1.60±0.14.Group C and D with va1ues0.83+0.81 and 1.70±0.84 respectively, showed significantly (pO.05) increase compared to Group A with value4.98±0.57.Group C and D showed significant (p