EFFECTS OF Cajanus cajan AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT ON SERUM AMINO TRANSFERASE, ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE AND ELECTROLYTES CONCENTRATIONS

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Cajanus cajan on the concentration of Na, K, Cl and HCO3 and the activities of amino transferases (ALT and AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the serum of physiologically normal rats. Two different doses, 0.5 g/kg and 1.0g/kg body weight (BWT) were administered to rats for 14 days. The effect was assessed on the basis of comparative measures of the evaluated indices in non treated rats vis-à-vis those treated with the extract. With the exception of ALP, the extract at a dose of 0.5 g/kg produced no significant (p < 0.05) changes in ALT and AST activities and in the concentrations of the electrolytes in rats. Though the levels of serum electrolytes were not significantly raised, 1.0g/kg of the extract markedly (p < 0.05) increased the activities of serum enzymes. Overall, the data of the study suggests that aqueous leaf extract of Cajanus cajan at a dose of 0.5 g/kg did not cause obvious damage to the liver and kidneys of rats. However, 1.0g/kg bwt of the plant extract showed clear signs of hepatocellular derangement in rats. Hence, Cajanus cajan leaves may be hepatotoxic when consumed at concentrations about or above 0.5 g/kg of body weight.