EFFECT OF MOMORDICA-CHARANTIA ON KEY HEPATIC-ENZYMES

The effect of Momordica charantia on certain key hepatic enzymes was i nvestigated using male Sprague-Dawley rats as the animal model. Fruit juice and seed extract of Momordica charantia were administered orally at a daily dose of 1 ml/100 g body weight for 30 days under light eth er anaesthesia while the control group received equivalent amounts of distilled water under identical conditions (n = 10 in each case). Seru m gamma-glutamyl transferase (P < 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.01-0.001) concentrations were found to be significantly elevated fo llowing oral administration of both the fruit juice and the seed extra ct. Consistent significant histopathological changes in the liver were not observed in either treatment group although the prevalence of dil atation and/or congestion of the central vein sinusoidal system appear ed to be twice as high following fruit juice treatment than in the oth er 2 groups. Thus, Momordica charantia may either contain hepatotoxins capable of causing cellular damage at the molecular level without cau sing significant histopathological changes or the plant may have an en zyme inducing effect.