 Corresponding author: Emmanuel Tonbra Egoro Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Niger Delta University, P.M.B. 071, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0. Abuse of Alabukun consumption: A biochemical and histomorphological study in Rattus norvegicus rats Emmanuel Tonbra Egoro * , Ikhide Godwin Ilegbedion and Prudence Nkemdinim Okara Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Niger Delta University, P.M.B. 071, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2021, 08(01), 037–042 Publication history: Received on 04 August 2021; revised on 06 October 2021; accepted on 08 October 2021 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjbphs.2021.8.1.0092 Abstract This study was aimed on the biochemical and histomorphological study of abuse in the consumption of alabukun powder in Rattus norvegicus rats. Five milliliter of blood specimen was collected into lithium heparin bottles from seven rats weighing 240±2g respectively with each of them administered with 0.2mg/kg alabukun powder daily for a period of two weeks (experimental group) while another seven rats weighing 240±2g each were not administered with alabukun powder (control group). Thereafter alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and C-reactive protein were measured quantitatively in both groups of rats. The mean values of all the measured biochemical parameters in Rattus norvegicus rats in the experimental group were statistically significant (p<0.05) as compared to that in the control group. This established biochemical finding was in conformity with the histomorphological examination of the kidney and liver organs. In conclusion, this study has established that administration of 0.2mg/kg of alabukun powder on daily basis for a period of two weeks on Rattus norvegicus rats may induce hepato-renal and inflammatory disorders. It is thus recommended that consumption of alabukun powder by humans should strictly be in compliance with its prescription. However, kidney, liver and inflammatory biomarkers should be quantitatively measured in humans that have abused its consumption with a view to ascertain their health status and prevent any deleterious risks. Keywords: Alabunkun; Abuse; Biochemical changes; Histomorphological changes; Kidney; Liver; Rattus norvegicus rats 1. Introduction Alabukun is a local drug that is used to treat pains, feverishness, headache and cold. It contains 760mg and 60mg of acetylsalicylic acid and caffeine respectively. The acetylsalicylic acid which is otherwise known as aspirin is absorbed rapidly from the stomach as well as small intestine via passive diffusion across the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently hydrolysed rapidly thus forming salicylic acid with the aid of esterases in the plasma and gastrointestinal tract. This acid is distributed widely in the body with the highest concentration found in liver, renal cortex, plasma, lungs and heart. In the liver it forms salicyluric acid and other metabolites after its metabolism by phase ii conjugation reaction [1]. It helps to reduce pain by preventing the production of platelet aggregation with the inhibition of adenosine in the body. If not used in line with its prescription, this drug may lead to side effects such as asthma, vertigo, nausea, swelling due to fluid accumulation, gastrointestinal tract erosion which may result in occult bleeding and reduced iron uptake with the subsequent deficiency of iron [2]. The use of aspirin indiscriminately has also been observed to be associated with