IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (JDMS) ISSN: 2279-0853, ISBN: 2279-0861. Volume 3, Issue 5 (Jan.- Feb. 2013), PP 34-37 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 34 | Page Ameliorative Effects of Soya Bean Oil and Vitamin C on Liver Enzymes in Ethanol -Induced Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats 1 Mallo, M.J., 1 Tanko, Y and 2 Mabrouk, M.A. 1 Department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. . 2 Department of Human Physiology, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. Abstract: The protective potential of soya bean oil and vitamin C on Ethanol-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats was evaluated. Thirty five Wistar rats of both sexes weighing 120-200g were grouped into five groups of seven rats each. Oxidative stress was induced by administration of 20% ethanol (w/v) for 28 days, at the end of the period of administration, the rats were fasted over night and their blood was collected directly from the heart via cardiac puncture in EDTA sample bottles and the blood was centrifuged and the serum was used to determine the levels of of AST, ALT and ALP in all the groups . The result revealed that Ethanol significantly (p<0.05) increased plasma AST, ALT and ALP levels. Vitamin C significantly (p<0.05) decreased serum AST while soya bean oil produced no significant (p<0.05) effect on plasma AST. The serum levels of ALT and ALP were significantly reduced following vitamin C and Soya bean oil administration. The elevation of serum AST, ALT and ALP after alcohol administration is an indication oxidative stress. The decrease in plasma concentration of the liver enzymes after treatment with vitamin C and Soya bean oil reveals the ameliorative potential of vitamin C and soya bean oil against ethanol-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats. Key words: Ethanol, Oxidative stress, Liver enzymes Vitamin C, Soya bean I. Introduction The liver is the largest internal organ in the body, constituting about 2.5% of an adult’s body weight, approximately 1500g [1 ] . In the late fetus, in which it also serves as hematopoietic organ it is proportionately twice as large (5% of the body weight) [2 ] . During rest, it receives 25% of the cardiac output via the hepatic portal vein and hepatic artery. The hepatic portal vein carries the absorbed nutrients from the GI tract to the liver, which takes up, stores, and distributes nutrients and vitamins [1 ]. Liver enzymes are proteins that help speed up a chemical reaction within the liver. They perform a variety of functions in the body such as filtration and cleansing of the blood, excretion and metabolism. The liver is greatly involved in removing toxins from the body. Liver enzymes are normally present in liver cells, and in case of injury to liver cells, they are spilled into the blood stream. Documenting a raised level of these enzymes in blood serves as an initial marker of liver disease. Among the commonly used liver enzymes are aminotransferases. They include aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT or SGPT). Another group of liver enzymes are cholestatic liver enzymes; alkaline phosphatase (AP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). When do aminotransferase levels increase? Processes that cause extensive death of liver cells lead to an increase in aminotransferases. Alcohol is a chemical compound and is the active ingredient in beer, wine, whisky, gin, brandy and so on. Alcohol appears in the blood within five minutes of its being drunk and disappears in an hour or two hours later [3]. It is the most widely used drug in the western society, and it is also one of the most popular drinks in Nigeria. More men than female are known to be engaged in alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and abuse of psychotropics [4]. There is always high alcohol consumption in Nigeria particularly during festive periods for instance, birthdays, wedding toasts, professional graduation ceremonies such as tailoring, trading and so on. The relationship between alcohol consumption and health outcome is complex and multidimensional [5]. Excessive alcohol usage is the third leading cause of preventable death in United States [6]. Alcohol usage leads to dependence, which is a serious medical illness, experienced by about 14% of alcohol users [7, 8]. Alcohol dependence causes about $184 billion in expenditures arising from alcohol related chronic diseases such as heart diseases [9], Alzheimer’s disease [10], stroke [11], liver disease [12], cancer [13], chronic respiratory disease [14], diabetes mellitus [15], and bone disease [16], which may develop following chronic alcohol ingestion and contribute to the alcoholism related high morbidity and mortality. The relationship between alcohol consumption and liver disease was recognized more than 200 years ago [17]. The liver is particularly susceptible to alcohol-related injury because it is the primary site of alcohol metabolism. Some products generated from alcohol metabolism are even more toxic than the alcohol itself e.g., acetaldehyde, free radicals are also generated during alcohol metabolism which also damages the liver cells and promotes impairment of vital functions such as energy generation. The antioxidants which are the body’s defense system are against free radicals are also inhibited by alcohol leading to increased liver damage [18]. Symptoms of liver damage may not appear immediately until the damage is quite extensive due to its considerable reserve.