Hepato-protective Activities of Tiger Nut (Cyperus esculentus) Against Hepatotoxicity Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats

Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus) are under-utilized due to lack of information on their nutritional potential. A lot of people eat the tiger nut without knowing the nutritional benefits and products that can be obtained from it. Tiger nut milk is used as a liver tonic in China and some other countries. The purpose of this study therefore was to investigate the protective effects of Tiger nut against a dose of Carbon-Tetrachloride (CC14) induced liver damage in experimental rats. The induction of liver damage was done by intraperitoneal administration of CC14 (0.5m1/kg body weight in olive oil). This led to significant increases in the levels of L-aspartate aminotransferase (AST), L-alanine transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lipid peroxides in the CC14 intoxicated rats. Pretreatment with varied concentrations of Tiger nut diets (1%, 5% and 10%) and vitamin E (9 %,) for 21 days prior to CC14 administration resulted in significant decreases in liver marker enzymes and lipid peroxides. The results of this study therefore suggest that Tiger nut may be acting as a natural antioxidant that prevents hepatic oxidative stress induced by CC14.