COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF PALM KERNEL OIL, OLIVE OIL, CRUDE OIL AND HONEY ON LIVER FUNCTION OF MALE ALBINO RATS

Chinedu Imo*, Kayode Adebisi Arowora, Michael Sunday Abu and Florence Ashe Angbas

ABSTRACT

Background: Comparative effects of palm kernel oil, olive oil, crude oil and honey on liver function of male albino rats was evaluated in this study because of their wide use in traditional medicine. Methods: A total of 35 healthy male albino rats were used in this study. The rats were randomly placed into 5 groups with 6 rats in each group. The rats were administered the chemical substances for 21 days before being sacrificed and their blood samples and livers collected for biochemical and histological analysis respectively. Results: ALT reduced non-significantly (p>0.05) in groups 2, 4 and 5, but increased non-significantly in group 3 compared to the control. ALP increased non-significantly (p>0.05) in groups 2 and 5, but increased significantly (p<0.05) in groups 3 and 4 compared to the control. AST reduced non-significantly (p>0.05) in group 2, but increased significantly (p<0.05) in groups 3 and 4, and non-significantly (p>0.05) in group 5 compared to the control. Total proteins increased non-significantly (p>0.05) in groups 2 and 3, but increased significantly (p<0.05) in groups 4 and 5 compared to the control. Albumin and globulin increased significantly (p<0.05) in all the test groups compared to the control. Bilirubin increased non-significantly (p>0.05) in groups 2, 3 and 5, but increased significantly (p<0.05) in group 4 compared to the control. Photomicrographs of histoarchitectural state of the liver tissues showed some mild alterations in some part of the tissues of the test animals administered olive oil and crude oil when compared with the control. Conclusion: Comparative evaluation of long-term administration of palm kernel oil, olive oil, crude oil and honey as in this study showed that olive oil and crude oil may negatively alter liver function than palm kernel oil and honey. Palm kernel oil and honey may support certain liver functions.

Keywords: Crude oil, honey, olive oil, palm kernel oil, liver function.