Iru, a Fermented Product of Parkia Biglobosa, Possesses Significant Hepatoprotective Effect in Wistar Rats During Treatment of Hypercholesterolaemia

Abstract

Background: The liver is central to the body's metabolic health and serves as a key indicator of body toxicology. Therefore, this research  was designed to investigate the effect of iru, used to treat hypercholesterolemia, on liver functionality.

Methods: Iru was produced from the seeds of Parkia biglobosa using starter culture of Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus plantarum and  Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The rats were experimentally induced into hypercholesterolaemia using high lipid compounded feed. The  hypercholesterolaemic rats were fed iru supplemented diet for 28 days and aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)  and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymes were assessed in the serum. Histopathological study of the liver of experimental rats was also conducted.

Results: The induced untreated rats had 89.21 U/L of AST which is significantly higher (p>0.05) than the value of the control group (55.87  U/L), the groups fed with iru supplemented feed (47.63-58.54 U/L), and the group where standard drug was administered (46.79 U/L). The  ALT values of the group fed iru supplemented diet (34.17 - 40.44 U/L) was significantly lower (p<0.05) than the control (49.10U/L).  The untreated group had the highest ALP (62.60 U/L) and significantly higher than the control and all the treated groups. The histology of  the liver tissue showed that the untreated groups displayed structural defect of cell deadness. In all the treated groups, cells  structures were normal. 

Conclusion: Fermented Parkia biglobosa seeds (iru) had hepato-protective effect on the liver tissues of rats with  hypercholesterolaemia.