Changes in liver function markers and lipid profile of rats administered rainy and dry season Amaranthus spinosus methanol extract and lead acetate

Abstract

Seasonal variations influence the bioactivity of medicinal plants potentially modifying its therapeutic efficacy. This study investigated the effects of season variation of Amaranthus spinosus leaves methanol extract (rainy season A. spinosus leaves methanol extract (RSALME) and dry season A. spinosus leaves methanol extract (DSALME)) on liver function and lipid profile in rats exposed to lead acetate. Adult male rats (45) were divided into nine groups (n = 5) and administered varying doses (high dose (HD), medium dose (MD) and low dose (LD)) of A. spinosus methanol extract and lead acetate for 28 days as follows: Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (lead acetate only), Group 3 (lead acetate + Ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA)), Group 4, 5 and 6 (lead acetate + RSALME-HD, RSALME-MD and RSALME-LD respectively), Group 7, 8 and 9 (lead acetate + DSALME-HD, DSALME-MD and DSALME-LD respectively). Administration of lead acetate only significantly elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (T. Chol) and triglyceride (TAG) and reduced total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in the serum. These findings suggest that treatment with RSALME-MD and DSALME-MD significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated the lead acetate induced toxicity suggesting hepatoprotective potential of the plant.