Effects of Rhaptopetalum coriaceum Oliv Stem Bark Extract on Serum Enzyme Activities and Histopathological Changes in Rats

Abstract

Daily oral administration of graded doses of ethanolic extract stem bark of Rhaptopetalum coriaceum Oliv administered to rats for three weeks produced a significant (P<0.05) increase in serum ghitamate oxalotransaminase (SGOT), pyruvate transaminase levels (SGPT) and a decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The extract was found to produce pathological lesions of the liver, kidney and lung. These lesions include: vascular congestion and hepatic necrosis in the liver, tubular necrosis in the kidney and pulmonary congestion with exaggerated alveolar epithelium in the lungs. These results suggests that users of this local remedy as hypotensive agent.