Effect of methanolic leaf extract of Thymus vulgaris on some biomarker enzymes in Trypanosoma brucei infected rats.

Abstract

The effect of methanolic extract of Thymus vulgaris on some biomarker enzymes in Trypanosoma brucei infected rats was investigated. The result obtained in serum and liver GGT, shows that at p<0.05, there was insignificant difference in the serum and liver specific activities of infected untreated and uninfected treated with extract group in comparison with the uninfected untreated (normal) groups. But, there was significant increase in the serum and liver GGT activities of prophylactic treated group compared to other experimental groups. Also, the result also shows that there is significant increase in the serum ALP activities of infected early treated groups, compared to other experimental groups. However, the liver ALP activity was significantly increased in prophylactic infected treated group compared to other experimental groups. In the transaminase, the result of the serum Aspartate transaminase (AST) shows that there was significant increase in uninfected treated extract compared to other experimental groups. Whereas, there was significant increase in liver AST of infected early treated compared to prophylactic treated, infected untreated and uninfected not treated (normal) groups. However, the result of the antioxidant enzyme, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) show significant increase in serum and liver activities and liver Catalase (CAT) activities of all the experimental groups compared to uninfected not treated (normal) group. The changes in the serum and liver specific activities of these biomarker enzymes may be due to interaction between infective condition and the constituents of the extracts. Hence, caution should be taken when using the extract for therapeutic purpose because it may also have some liver or tissue membrane damaging effect.