Altered biliary flow rate and bile composition following consumption of ethanolic fruit extract of Dennettia in rats

Dennettia tripetala is a tropical plant with some ethno-medicinal uses; it enhances uterine contraction/involution in pregnant and post-partum women, it is also a mild laxative, with anti-bacteria, antifungal properties etc..

This study sought to elucidate the impact of D. tripetala fruit extract intake on biliary flow rate and bile composition in rats.

A total of 18 albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups of 6 rats each and fed on normal rat chow + drinking water and/or 85 mg/kg, 170 mg/kg body weight of D. tripetala extract for 14 days.

The rate of bile secretion in the control, low dose (LD) and high dose (HD) D. tripetala extract treated rats was 4.40 ± 0.24 ml/h, 3.20 ± 0.20 ml/h and 4.60 ± 0.25 ml/h respectively. Showing a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in LD and an increase in HD. Na+ concentration increased significantly (P < 0.01) in the LD extract recipients, but was reduced in the HD. LD of the extract increased K+ significantly (P < 0.001) while HD decreased it (P < 0.05). Both low and HD of the extract reduced Cl(-) concentration significantly (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively). HCO3(-) increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the HD extract recipients. However, total cholesterol, total and conjugated bilirubin concentrations were not significantly altered by D. tripetala fruit extracts.

In conclusion, this study showed that LD of D. tripetala may reduce bile flow rate while HD may increase it without altering the saturation of cholesterol and bilirubin.