Biochemical and histological changes following the co-administration of Cisplatin and methanolic extract of Portulaca oleracea in adult Wistar rats: an experimental study.

<b>Aim:</b> This study investigated the biochemical and histological changes associated with the co-administration of cisplatin and methanolic extract of <i>Portulaca oleracea</i> (MEPO)<i> </i>in adult Wistar rats.<b> </b> <b>Methods: </b>Twenty-four (24)<b> </b>adult<b> </b>female Wistar rats were randomly divided into six (6) groups (A-F) (n=5). Group A served as the control group for the experiment and received no treatment. Group B was given a single dose of cisplatin and served as cisplatin control group. Group C and D received 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg of MEPO 6 hours after a single dose cisplatin injection respectively. Group E and F received 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg of MEPO 6 hours before cisplatin injection. The cisplatin injection was 2 ml/kg given intraperitoneally for all groups. Animals were sacrificed with cervical dislocation at the end of the experiment and blood was collected for some biochemical examinations while liver and spleen tissues were harvested for histological analysis. <b>Results:</b> There was a significant increase in the serum levels of ALT, ALP, AST, total bilirubin, and conjugated bilirubin following cisplatin treatment (p=0.000, 0.000, 0.039, 0.000, 0.004 respectively) with a consequent reversal due to MEPO administration across all treated groups (p=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, and 0.000) in a dose-dependent fashion. Cisplatin caused no liver damage but led to expansion of the red and white pulp in the spleen which was attenuated by MEPO. <b>Conclusion:</b> MEPO demonstrated a protective effect against cisplatin-induced elevation of liver enzyme, hyperbilirubinemia and spleen toxicity when taken in a safe dose.<br>