Original Research Article

Hepatoprotective Potential of Corchorus olitorius Leaves against Potassium Bromate-induced Hepatotoxicity

K. J. Aguh¹, O. I. N. Onyekachi², M. U. Nwobodo³, N. M. Chika-Igwenyi³, C. A. Onyeaghala⁴, F. U. Agu⁵, S. F. Orji³, C. Igwenyi³, C. N. Ugwu⁶, C. L. Uche⁷, I. O. Abali⁸, A. I. Airaodion^9*

¹Department of Radiology, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia, Nigeria
²Department of Medical Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
³Department of Internal Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
⁴Department of Internal Medicine, University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers state, Nigeria
⁵Department of Physiology, Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria
⁶Department of Internal Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
⁷Department of Haematology, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
⁸Department of Surgery, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
⁹Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria*

*Corresponding Author E-mail: augustineairaodion@yahoo.com/
Tel.: +2347030204212

Received: 13 September 2022  I  Accepted: 21 September 2022  I  Published: 25 September 2022  I  Article ID: MRJBM22015
Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.
This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0.

Abstract

Corchorus olitorius leaves have been reported to possess the ability to protect the liver from hepatotoxicity that has been experimentally induced. The purpose of this study therefore was to investigate its hepatoprotective potential against potassium bromate-induced hepatotoxicity. Fresh C. olitorius (jute) plants were taken from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Nigeria. They were extracted using a Soxhlet technique with 95% ethanol as the solvent. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were used in the experiment. Before the experiment began, they were given seven (7) days to get acclimated to a laboratory setting. At random, they were split up into groups A, B, C, and D. Group A served as the control group and received oral distilled water. Animals in groups C and D received C. olitorius at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively, in addition to the 100 mg/kg body weight of potassium bromate given to groups B, C, and D. Every day for 28 days, C. olitorius extract and freshly prepared potassium bromate were given orally to rats. The animals were sacrificed and blood and liver tissue were collected for the determination of hepatic biomarkers. The findings demonstrated that, when compared to the control group, KBrO₃ caused a significant increase (P˂0.05) in ALT, AST, LDH, ALP, total bilirubin (TB), conjugated bilirubin (CB), and unconjugated bilirubin (UB) levels, but decreased total protein, albumin and globulin in the serum of animals. In the liver cells, KBrO₃ reduced hepatic biomarkers. These perturbations were neutralized in the groups treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg of C.olitorius body weight respectively. According to the current study, potassium bromate caused liver injury by unhinging important hepatic indicators. Increased efforts should be made to stop the use of potassium bromate in food processing. Furthermore, by bringing the examined biomarkers back to levels that are substantially identical to those in the control group of animals, it may be inferred that C. olitorius leaves have a significant hepatoprotective effect against liver damage caused by potassium bromate. We recommend consumption of this vegetable.

Keywords: Corchorus olitorius leaves, Hepatoprotective potential, Hepatotoxicity, Potassium bromate