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IN recent times the incidence of liver, kidney and indeed body organ damage has been on the rise. This has been linked to ingestion of toxic chemicals or poisons such as drug overdose and over alcohol indulgence.
But Nigerian researchers have demonstrated how a mixture of bitter kola (Garcinia kola) and honey protects the liver from damage caused by the consumption of toxic substances and drugs.
The study published recently in Nigerian Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is titled “Protective Effect of Garcinia kola Seed and Honey Mixture Against Paracetamol-induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats.”
The researchers concluded: “Garcinia kola seed (GKS), honey or a mixture of both acted as anti-hepatotoxic agent because it was able to significantly reduce the elevated serum total bilirubin concentration and enzyme activities in rats exposed to paracetamol treatment. The observed anti-hepatotoxic activity might be linked to the presence of flavonoids in both GKS and honey.”
The study researchers include D. G. Eminedoki, A. A. Uwakwe and Gloria O. Ibe of the Department of Biochemistry, University Of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Nigerian researchers have also found that bitter kola could be used to treat osteoarthritis. The study titled “Clinical effects of Garcinia kola in knee osteoarthritis” was published in Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research.
The researchers from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, Osun State concluded: “Garcinia kola clinically appeared to have a significant analgesic/anti-inflammatory effects in knee osteoarthritis patients. Garcinia kola is a potential osteoarthritis disease modifier. This study shows that Garcinia kola is effective in improving locomotor function and significant pain reduction in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Further study is required for standardisation of dosages of Garcinia kola in knee Osteoarthritis (KOA).”
Liver is the main body organ responsible for the metabolism of drugs. Every drug is known to be associated with hepatotoxicity almost certainly due to the ability of drugs to generate free radicals and to cause a disturbance in hepatocyte biochemistry. Consequently, this subjects the liver to a variety of diseases and disorders.
In recent times, researchers have been motivated to consider the therapeutic effects of a number of medicinal plants that are claimed to possess protective characteristics against liver disorders caused by toxic substances. One of such medicinal plants is Garcinia kola, which was chosen in this study. In addition, honey was chosen because in traditional medicine it is used alone or in combination with other substances, such as Garcinia kola seed, for the treatment of a number of human ailments.
Claims and uses
Garcinia kola is a fruit-bearing tree that belongs to the family Guttiferae. It is found in moist forests and grows as a medium sized tree up to 14m high. The plant is commonly called “bitter kola” in Nigeria because of the bitter taste of its seeds. Garcinia kola seed (hereafter referred to as GKS) has long been used in sub- Saharan Africa as an antidote for ingested poison, and as a cure for a number of ailments and conditions such as abdominal colicky pain, chest cold, cough and hepatitis.
The documented and suggested clinical uses of GKS include drug detoxification, bronchodilation (for asthma), liver disorders, male virility, blood sugar regulation, lipid disorders, infectious diseases, boosting of immune system and weight reduction. Most of the reported bioactivities associated with GKS are believed to be related to the presence of biflavonoids, which are well known for their antioxidant activities.
Honey is a natural product that is widely available in different parts of the world, and is readily obtained from natural or cultured bee colonies. Honey has a very long history of use as a medicinal substance due partly to its ability to inhibit microbial growth. It has been reported to be very successful in treating human burns, wounds and ulcers. It has also been found to exhibit antioxidant activity due to its high content of flavonoids.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is widely used as a hepatotoxic agent for the screening of the antihepatotoxic activity of a wide variety of traditional medicinal plants. It has been generally reported and accepted that one of the possible mechanisms that may be involved in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity has to do with the generation of oxidised reactive intermediates, and compounds having antioxidant, free radical scavenging and anti-lipoperoxidative properties are known to exhibit anti-hepatotoxic activities.
Phytochemical analysis shows that both GKS and honey contain high concentrations of flavonoids, which are compounds having strong antioxidant activity (Iwu and Igboko, 1982; Ajadi and Kamaruddin, 2004). The presence of these strong antioxidants might be responsible for the observed anti-hepatotoxic potential of GKS, honey or a mixture of both.
Both GKS and honey have high contents of strong antioxidants, and have been reported to exhibit anti- hepatotoxic activities in laboratory animals exposed to hepatotoxic agents. However, in an extensive review of related literature, no documented evidence was found to show that the mixture of GKS and honey could protect animal livers against toxin-induced hepatotoxicity. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective potential of GKS, honey or a mixture of both against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
Meanwhile, over the past years, there has been a growing number of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients who are not willing to comply with long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) treatment and wish to use herbal anti-rheumatic medicine. This study assessed the clinical effects of Garcinia kola (GK) in KOA patients.
The study was a prospective randomised, placebo controlled, double blind, clinical trial approved by the institutional medical ethics review board and written informed consent obtained from each patient. All KOA patients presenting at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital complex were recruited into the study. The patients were grouped into four (A = Placebo, B = Naproxen, C = Garcinia kola, D = Celebrex). The drugs and placebo were given twice a day per oral route. Each dose consisted of 200 mg of G. kola, Naproxen (500 mg), Celebrex (200 mg) and Ascorbic acid (100 mg). The primary outcome measure over six weeks study period was the change in mean WOMAC pain visual analogue scales (VAS). Secondary outcome measures included the mean change in joint stiffness and physical function (mobility/walking).
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Thanks so much for the information on Garcinia cola and honey! Very revealing.
ReplyDeleteAma, from Ikeduru