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

Aim: This study investigated the biochemical
and histological changes associated with the co-administration of cisplatin and
methanolic extract of Portulaca oleracea
(MEPO) in adult Wistar rats.

Methods:
Twenty-four (24) adult 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: MEPO demonstrated a protective
effect against cisplatin-induced elevation of liver enzyme, hyperbilirubinemia
and spleen toxicity when taken in a safe dose.