AMINOTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY IN SERUM, LIVER AND HEART TISSUE OF RATS EXPOSED TO THEOBROMINE

by M.U. ETENG, RE. EBONG, R.R. ETTARH, I.B. UMOH

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SUMMARY
Objectives: To find out the effect of theobromine on aminotransferase enzyme activities in serum, heart and liver in rats
Methods: Theobromine in two doses was administered by oral gavage to albino Wistar rats (n=8 for each group) for four day period and both albino aminotransferase(AST) and aspartate aminotransferase(ALT) enzyme activities were measures in serum, heart and liver tissues Control group (n=8) was administered only vehicle and enzyme activities were measured. Serum AST:ALT ratios were also computed for all the groups.
Results: Theobromine administration in moderate (600mg/kg body weight) to high (700 mg/kg body weights) doses induced a highly significant (p<0.001) time and dose dependent increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities of the serum and heart tissue, but not of the liver. Similarly, the alanine aminotransferase activities of theobromine treated animals were significantly higher (p<0.01) for the heart, and (p<0.005) for the serum compared with their respective controls at 700mg/kg body weight. There were no changes in the ALT activities in the liver tissue. The computed AST:ALT ratio for the theobromine treatment group showed an increase with values of 1.93 and 2.01 for the 600mg/kg and 700mg/kg theobromine dose regimens respectively, compared with the control value of 1.37.
Conclusion: Theobromine toxicity appears to be heart directed
KEYWORDS: Theobromine, aminotranferase activity, liver, heart, serum

Prof Mbeh Eteng

Mbeh Eteng is a Professor of Biochemistry in the Faculty of University of Calabar. He holds a Ph.D from the University of Calabar (2000). He was Dean of Faculty of Basic Medical Science (2012-2016) and Chairman Committee of Deans (2014-2015). Member Governing Board UCTH, Calabar (2018 -till date). Fellow, Institute of Co-operate Administration. His current area of research is on malaria/prostrate hyperplaxia and medicinal plants research and use in management. He has successfully supervised 25 Ph.Ds.
Get to know more about him and access more of his publications through his personal knowledgebase – http://www.mbeheteng.com.ng

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