PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ALMOND NUT EXTRACT ON ASPIRIN-ALCOHOL-INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN MALE WISTAR RATS
Abstract
Aspirin-alcohol co-administration is known to cause hepatotoxicity through mechanisms involving oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. This study therefore, evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of almond nut extract in male Wistar rats exposed to aspirin-alcohol. Fifteen rats (150–200 g) were randomly divided into three groups (n=5): control, aspirin-alcohol co-administered (untreated), and aspirin-alcohol co-administered but treated with aqueous almond nut extract orally for 9 days. The experiment lasted for 30 days and all rats were sacrificed, their blood was collected and the liver was removed. The results showed that aspirin-alcohol co-administration significantly elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein, bilirubin and lipid peroxidation (LPO), indicating liver damage and oxidative stress. However, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) showed no significant difference after treatment. Also, there’s a significant reduction in cholesterol and high density lipoprotein levels in the untreated group, while almond nut extract treated group shows a significant decrease in triglyceride level. Antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) were significantly modulated by almond nut extract group, though glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity remained statistically unchanged. Histological examination revealed normal liver architecture in the control group and degeneration with enlarged central vein in aspirin-alcohol group, whereas the almond nut-treated group showed normal architectural structure with sinusoid channel and hepatocyte indicating reduced hepatocellular degeneration. In conclusion, almond nut extract exhibited hepatoprotective effect by reducing oxidative stress and modulating lipid metabolism.
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