Protective role of ethanolic extract of Vernonia amygdalina against potassium bromate induced tissue damage in wistar rats

The protective role of ethanolic extract of Vernonia amygadalina against potassium bromate induced tissue damage in Wistar rats was investigated. Twenty rats were divided into four groups of five rats each (A, B, C and D). Group A was administered 1 ml of 0.25 M sucrose solution. Group C and D were pretreated with 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous extract of V. amygdalina respectively. The oral induction of 60 mg/kg potassium bromate to groups B, C and D were done eight hours before sacrifice. The liver, spleen, brain, kidney, heart and stomach were collected. Organ-body weight ratio, total tissue protein, amino acid level and malondialdehyde level in the tissues were estimated. The result showed a significant increase in all the parameters studied in group B. The organ to body weight ratio, total protein level, MDA concentration significantly lowered at both doses and amino acid level reduction is significant (p<0.05) in Group C when compared with Group B. This suggested that ethanolic extract of Vernonia amygdalina has a protective potential against tissue damage induced by potassium bromate. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012.