Odeyemi O.O., Yakubu M.T., Masika P.J., Afolayan A.J.
Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X 1314, Alice 5700, South Africa
Odeyemi, O.O., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Yakubu, M.T., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Masika, P.J., Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Afolayan, A.J., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X 1314, Alice 5700, South Africa
The effects of the essential oil from the leaves of Mentha longifolia L. subsp. capensis on some biochemical parameters of Wistar rats were studied. The oil at 125, 250, 375, and 500μL/kg of body weight reduced (P<.05) the red blood cells and lymphocytes with no definite pattern on the white blood cells and mean cell volume. The doses significantly increased the neutrophils, monocytes, large unstained cells, liver-body weight ratio, and serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol, and inorganic phosphate but had no effect on the heart body weight ratio and serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, Na+, Ca 2+, Cl-, K+, creatinine, and uric acid. The oil at 500f body weight also increased the kidney-body weight ratio. In contrast, the oil reduced the serum urea and atherogenic index. The total and conjugated bilirubin, together with the total protein and albumin, in the serum increased only with oil at 125μL/kg of body weight. The serum alkaline phosphatase activity also increased with no significant change in those of γ-glutamyl transferase and alanine and aspartate aminotransferase. The results indicate dose- and parameter-specific effect of the essential oil. Although the essential oil from M. longifolia leaves may not predispose to atherosclerosis, it may increase the functional activity of the rat liver at the lowest dose investigated. Therefore, the essential oil from M. longifolia may not be completely "safe" at the doses investigated. © Copyright 2009, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. and Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition.
alanine aminotransferase; albumin; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; bilirubin; calcium; chlorine; creatinine; essential oil; gamma glutamyltransferase; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; Mentha longifolia extract; phosphate; potassium; protein; sodium; unclassified drug; uric acid; angiosperm; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; atherogenesis; atherosclerosis; body weight; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; erythrocyte count; female; heart weight; leukocyte count; liver weight; lymphocyte count; male; Mentha longifolia; neutrophil count; nonhuman; plant leaf; priority journal; rat; toxicity testing; triacylglycerol blood level; urea blood level; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Atherosclerosis; Bilirubin; Blood Cell Count; Blood Cells; Blood Proteins; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Kidney; Lipids; Liver; Male; Mentha; Oils, Volatile; Organ Size; Phosphates; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Serum Albumin; Urea; Mentha longifolia; Rattus; Rattus norvegicus