Proximate Composition and Role of Telfairia Occidentalis Pod on Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Hepatoxicity in Wistar Rats
Abstract
The enormous waste burden potential of unutilized pod of Telfairia (T.) Occidentalis, TOP, could be controlled by using it in diets, and as drugs that could mitigate potential hepatotoxic effect of monosodium glutamate, MSG; a common food flavouring. This study was on the proximate properties of TOP flour, TOPF, and role of the ethanol extract, TOPE on MSG-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Twenty adult male Wistar rats (120 - 175 g) randomly allotted to five groups of 4 rats each in groups A, B, C, D and E respectively received normal saline (1 ml), MSG (8000 mg/kg), TOPE (200 mg/kg), MSG (8000 mg/kg) + TOPE (200 mg/kg) and MSG (8000 mg/kg) + TOPE (400 mg/kg) via oral gavage and daily for 14 days. The proximate properties (%) of TOPF were total carbohydrate (67.51±0.06) > ash (9.31±0.02) > crude fibre (7.88±0.02) > moisture (7.69±0.01 > crude protein (6.21±0.02) > fat (1.40 ±0.02), suggesting its prospective dietary potential. Significant (P < 0.05) alterations in the hepatic histology, hepatic functional parameters and associated diagnostic ratios in MSG-treated rats were incomparable to other rat groups. TOPE (200 mg/kg) elicited effect comparable to control and caused significant (P < 0.05) dose dependent reduction in the MSG effect. This demonstrated TOPE-related hepato-protection, and consistent protective role against MSG-induced hepatotoxicity, in the rats. Studies to harness the apparent dietary and hepatoprotective potentials of TOP in the rats are warranted and recommended.
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