This study investigates the effect of fourteen (14) -day administration of
Telfairia occidentalis
root, pod and stem aqueous extracts on rats. Sixty four (64) Wister
albino rats of both sexes were assigned to sixteen (16) groups of 4 animals per group.
Different groups received distilled water and, root, stem, and pod extracts at the doses of
250, 750, 1500, 2250, and 3000mg/kg of body weight. All animals were treated for 14 days
and sacrificed on the 15
th day. The biochemical assay results show that the root extract
caused significant decreases in the activities of alanine amino transferses (ALT) and
aspartate amino transferase (AST) at lower concentrations (250mg/kg and 750mg/kg), while
the stem extract showed significant increase in their activities at 3000mg/kg. The pod extract
had no effect on ALT and AST. Also the stem extract showed significant increase in the
activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reduction in
the concentration of serum sodium ion. Serum creatinine (not urea) was elevated when the
pod extract was administered at the lowest dose (250mg/kg). Conversely, the stem extract
caused a reduction in the concentration of creatinine at 250-, 750- and 1500mg/kg. There
was no significant effect on serum total protein and albumin by all the extracts. The stem
extract showed a significant increase in the liver- body weight ratio when administered at
750mg/kg and 1500mg/kg dosage. Thus, while
Telfairia occidentalis
root, pod, and stem
extracts may have varying protective and toxic effects on liver and kidney function
parameters, their effects may be dosage- and duration- dependent.
