Hepatoprotective effect of Tetracarpidium conophorum oil in diclofenac sodium induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Western dietary lifestyle has gained lots of attention globally with high level of patronage hence generating human health concern. This calls for dietary balance and supplementation with vegetables, fish and nuts which are known to contain Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9 fatty acids. Plant based oils such as Walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum), are known to be rich in Omega-fatty acids, which can help lower pathological conditions such as heart diseases. Therefore, the study investigated the effects of pre-treatment with Tetracarpidium conophorum oil (Oil of African Walnut) in adult male Wistar rats exposed to diclofenac sodium (DFS). Twenty four male rats were randomly divided into four groups of six rats each, this includes: Group 1-Normal control; Group 2- DFS control; Group 3- low dose Tc oil + DFS; and Group 4- high dose Tc oil + DFS. The rats in group 2 received intramuscular dose of DFS (10 mg/kg body weight/day during the last 7 days of T. conophorum oil treatment. Rats in treatment groups 3 and 4 were pre-treated with T. Conophorum oil at 5.0 and 10 ml/kg b.w/day per oral for 21 days, afterwards they were administered DFS at 10 mg/kg b.w/day respectively for 7 days. The result showed that, DFS increased significantly biochemical and pro-inflammatory markers. Pre-treatment with oil of T. conophrum significantly prevented the pathological conditions due to diclofenac. In conclusion, pre-treatment dosing with oil of T. Conophorum could be suggested as a novel adjuvant in long term management of Rheumatoid arthritis in man using diclofenac sodium.