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ABSTRACT
Infertility, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, affects millions globally. Herbal supplements like Long Jack (Eurycoma longifolia) are popular for improving reproductive well-being, although scientific understanding of its efficacy is lacking. This study aims at evaluating the effect of Long Jack-based supplements on liver function using experimental rat models. For this study 25 adult male Wistar rats segregated into 5 groups. Group I functioned as the control, while groups 2-5 were administered varying doses of Long Jack (10mg/g, 20mg/kg, 40mg/kg, and 80mg/kg respectively) over a 28-day period. Liver function parameters were evaluated through spectrophotometric techniques, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and bilirubin levels. Statistical analyses were employed to interpret the data. The findings revealed that serum AST (86 ± 3.97 U/L) in the group that received 20 mg/kg Long Jack was significantly reduced (p<0.05) compared with control group (104.6 ± 3.97). Serum GGT was significantly increased (p<0.05) in the groups that received 20 mg/kg (53.8 ± 3.98) and 80 mg/kg (57.6 ± 24.64) doses compared with the control group (36.2 ± 2.66). Furthermore, total protein was significantly increased (p<0.05) in the group that received 20mg/kg dose (7.32 ± 0.25) than in the control group (6.16 ± 0.07). Serum bilirubin levels were significantly increased across all Long Jack-supplemented groups compared with the control (p<0.05). ALT and ALP activity was not significantly different (p > 0.05) across all groups compared with the control. Long Jack supplementation elicited dose-dependent effects on liver function biomarkers. While lower dosages showed benefits, caution is advised with higher doses due to potential adverse liver effects. Further investigation is imperative to understand the mechanisms, long-term safety, optimal dosage, and educate healthcare providers and consumers on its risks and benefits.
