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ABSTRACT
Consumption of avocado (Persea americana) has increased worldwide in recent years. Part of this fruit (skin and seed) is lost during processing. However, a high proportion of bioactive substances, and phytochemicals, remain in this residue. The primary objective was to use the aqueous extract obtained to evaluate the effects of these phytochemicals on the liver of adult wistar rats. Compositions such as proteins, minerals, fat, vitamins, flavonoids, tarnines, alkaloids, oxalate, saponine and other phytochemicals have been reported to be present in avocado seeds. In this experiment to explore the effect of aqueous extract of avocado seed on the liver of adult wistar rats, Twenty adult wistar rats were randomly selected into four groups (A-D). Group A was control that received only feed and water. Group B received a dose of 500mg/kg body weight of the extract. Group C received 1000mg/kg body weight of the extract. Group D received 1500mg/kg body weight of the extract. The rats were fed with grower mash feed and had free access to water throughout the entire study period. The experiment lasted for 28 days. At the end of the treatment period, the rats were anaesthetized using chloroform. Blood was collected for biochemical assay. The kidneys were harvested and weighed and immediately fixed in formal saline to avoid autolysis and was transported to the histopathology laboratory for tissue processing. Data collected was analysed using SPSS. The results obtained showed no significant difference in body and organ weights of the liver among the groups. However, the liver test showed a significant increase in AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin. The oxidative stress parameters also had a significant increase in malondiadehyde and a decrease in glutathione and superoxide dismutase. On the other hand, the histological slides showed normal architecture among all groups. The increase in liver enzymes indicates a possible liver damage but could not be correlated with the histological slides. Also the extract induced oxidative stress to the animals as seen from the results. In conclusion, caution should be taken during administration of avocado seed extract, as it can result to hepatotoxicity.
