Ameliorating Effects of Annona Muricata Leaf Extract in Inflammatory Markers in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

This present study aimed to investigate the ameliorating effects of annona muricata leaf extract on inflammatory markers in male wistar rats. A total of 78 adult male rats obtained from the laboratory animal production unit of the Department of Physiology, Abia State University, Uturu were used for the different segments of the study. Eighteen of the rats were used for acute toxicity/lethal dose evaluation of the extract while the remaining sixty (60) were used for the testosterone-induced hyperplasia study. Prostate hyperplasia was induced in the rats via daily sub-cutaneous administration of testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days. Sixty rats used for this segment of the study were assigned to 6 groups of 10 rats and treated as follows: Group 1, Normal control, no treatment. Group 2 Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg) only and was the BPH control. Group3, Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg bw) + Finesteride (3 mg/kg body weight).Group 4, Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg bw) + Annona Muricata Leaf extract (300 mg/kg body weight). Group 5, Testosterone propionate (5 mg/kg bw) + Annona Muricata Leaf extract (600 mg/kg body weight).Group 6, Annona Muricata Leaf extract (600 mg/kg bw) only. At the end of treatment, animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected into EDTA and plain bottles for inflammatory markers  respectively. For the later (blood contained in plain bottles), the blood was allowed to clot and retract within two hours and then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes to obtain clear sera samples which were used for the various biochemical analyses. Data obtained were subjected to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, Version 20.0, IBM SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) was used for data analysis. Level of significance was calculated by One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Data were analyzed using Duncan Multiple Range Test and complemented with Student’s t test for post-hoc test for comparisons of the means of the various doses and fractions. P- values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significantly different between the test and control groups as well as among test groups for measured value. From this present study, the extract exhibited anti-inflammatory properties in treated groups.