The effects of aqueous leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens (agbala) on some selected biochemical indices of wister albino rats

The effects of aqueous leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens on some selected biochemical parameters of aspartate amino transferase (ALT), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and some trace elements on wister albino rats were assayed. The results showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the liver enzymes of ALT and AST of the heated and raw extracts when compared with their corresponding controls. The iron and copper concentrations of the rats increased significantly (p<0.05) in the raw and heated extract groups when compared with the controls. The zinc concentration increased significant ly (p<0.05) in the raw extract group but decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the heated extract group when compared with the control. There was a progressive change in the relative body weights of the rats after 11 days of feeding. The results of this study showed that aqueous leaf extract of (Agbala) Mucuna pruriens are rich in iron and copper and could be dangerous to the liver as shown from the elevated levels of AST and ALT liver markers of the heated and raw extract groups.