Evaluation of the Activity of Lippia alba Leave Extract in Reducing Ochratoxin A in Albino Rats

Ochratoxin A is a metabolite of fungal origin with the potential of inciting oxidative stress which results in disease conditions in man and animals. Plant parts from time immemorial have been used to treat disease conditions with considerable success, hence the study is aimed at determining the capacity of Lippia alba leaf extract to reduce the concentration of ochratoxin A in animal serum, kidney, and liver. Albino rats (60) were obtained and maintained, then divided into pre-treated set which were administered plant extract before toxin administration intraperitoneally, and post-treated set administered the toxin then treated with the plant extract. After 7 days of treatment and observation, the animals were euthanized, serum collected, and the organs harvested. Ochratoxin A concentration was determined using HPLC. Results obtained showed that serum of animals in group 5 treated with L. alba extract after toxin administration reduced OTA levels to 0.12 ± 0.06 ng/mL in the pre-treated set, while 0.58 ± 0.01 ng/mL was obtained in the post-treated set. The livers of pre-treated animals presented a 75% reduction in ochratoxin A concentration level compared to post-treated set that obtained 59.57% ochratoxin A reduction. Kidney toxins levels were lower than values obtained in the liver and serum. Though considerable reductions in ochratoxin A levels were recorded in the kidney, there was no significant difference from the control at p<0.05 in values obtained between the post-treated and pre-treat sets unlike values obtained in the serum and liver that presented significant differences at p<0.05. The study concluded that the plant possesses therapeutic capabilities which brought about the effects noted in the study. It is recommended that further study be undertaken to unravel the other potentials of the plant and mechanism of action.