ANTI-NUTRITIONAL CONSTITUENT OF COLOCASIA ESCULENTA ...

significantly, decreased after beta-sitosterol treatment. Earlier reports have shown that
beta-sitosterol is a potent inhibitor of dietary and serum cholesterol in rats (Gould,
1955), mice (Behar and Anthony, 1955), rabbits (Bhattacharyya and Lopez, 1979) and
dogs (Shipley et al., 1958). Therefore, in the present investigation, the observed
decrease in sennn cholesterol concentration appears to be due to the inherent
hypocholesterolemic effect of beta-sitosterol. An increased sample size would be
necessary to increase the inhibitory effect on cholesterol. Owing to poor solubility and
bioavailability of phytosterols, the lowering effect on sennn cholesterol ofphytosterols
is not consistent. High dosages of between 25 and 50 gld are required for efficacy
(Moreau et al., 2002).
Aminotransferase enzymes, ALT and AST, are largely used in the assessment of liver
damage (Al-Habori et aI., 2002; Dobbs et al., 2003). These enzymes can be measured in
sennn since membrane damage to the liver releases the enzymes into circulation. In the
sennn biochemical analysis, the most notable results were significantly elevated ALT and
AST. Such a significant increase in enzymatic activity of sennn ALT and AST reveals a
very important pathological change in cell-membrane permeability or hepatic-cell rupture
(Benjamin, 1978). This rise in liver enzyme activity is not necessarily an indication ofthe
liver's ability to synthesize the enzymes. Instead, it signifies a loss of material from
damaged hepatocytes (Woodman, 1980).
It is generally assumed that an increase of these enzyme activities reflects active
inflammation and necrosis of hepatic cells. The levels of alkaline phosphatase remained
fairly stable in this investigation and, therefore, do not appear to confirm the early stages
of viral infection. However, it should be borne in mind that increases in alkaline
phosphatase levels are not as sensitive an indicator of hepatic viral infection as are
elevated ALT and AST (Gopal and Rosen, 2000).
The significantly elevated ALT and AST levels were not correlated to any observable
clinical changes in the livers. Clinical observations included liver weights, as well as
macroscopic and microscopic histological examinations of the livers and kidneys. A
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