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Research Paper | Anatomy and Histology | Nigeria | Volume 4 Issue 12, December 2015

Protective Effect of Immature Coconut Water on Hepatocytes against Carbontetrachloride-induced Liver Damage in Wister Rats

Gideon Ihebuzo Ndubuka | Wilson Chimaobi Okafor | Ekezie Jervas ^[2] | Iwuji Samuel Chidi | Okeke Chukwubuike Udoka | Osuchukwu Ikechukwu Williams

Abstract: The biochemical characteristics of immature coconut water (ICW) have presented it as a therapeutic agent that can be used extensively in the field of biochemistry and medicine for both industrial, and preventive, management and curative purposes. Development of a more efficient and cost effective means of prevention and management of liver disorders through antioxidant activities were the objectives for embarking on the current experiment. This experiment is aimed at investigating the protective effect of ICW against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity.20 rats were fed on standard diet and divided into four groups. Rats in group 1 and group 2 were injected intraperitoneally (i. p) with olive oil. Group 1 received tap water only, while group 2 received ICW (100ml/kg body weight/day) only. Rats in Group 3 and Group 4 were injected i. p with CCl4 (5ml/kg body weight). Group 3 received tap water, while group 4 received ICW (100ml/kg body weight/day) only. At the end of the experiment (1 week), blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analysis. The present findings revealed that, CCl4 elevated serum enzyme activities of liver and some biochemical parameters, but these effects were prevented by the prior administration ICW on rats. Histopathologically, a significant cyto-architectural distortion, hepatocyte degeneration, necrotic cells, fatty liver, and inflammatory cell migration were observed in the liver of CCl4 treated group. The present study concluded that ICW administration played a protective role against CCl4-induced liver damages in Wister rats. These protective effects were in the form of improving liver enzyme activities, blood biochemical parameters and histological features of liver in CCl4-intoxicated rats. In the future, a dose dependent protective effect, and in vitro and in vivo regenerative effect of ICW on hepatocytes, could be investigated.

Keywords: Protection, Hepatocyte, Immature coconut water ICW, Histopathology, Serum

Edition: Volume 4 Issue 12, December 2015,

Pages: 1427 - 1431

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