Study of dioscorea hispida induced hepatotoxicity in maternal rats / Nur Fatihah Mamat Daud

Dioscorea hispida Dennst (D. hispida) commonly known as Asiatic Bitter Yam or ‘Ubi Gadong’ is known as a poisonous plant. It contained a water-soluble alkaloid of dioscorine, which may induce health complications if ingested in large amounts without proper processing. The present study aimed to determine the effects of D. hispida on the liver tissues of maternal rats through oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation. The hepatotoxicity effects of D. hispida was determined by using 20 Sprague Dawley rats consists of control group and three supplemented groups of D. hispida at different concentrations of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg (n=5) with Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) inhibition activity and the direct quantitative measurement of Malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The results revealed that there were no significant difference in SOD inhibition activity (%) and MDA level in all groups (P>0.05). Nevertheless, this present study has proved that the decreased of the antioxidant defence and increase to lipid peroxidation do relate to the involvement in D. hispida induce oxidative stress production. In conclusion, the supplementation of D. hispida may induce liver oxidative stress injury to maternal rats, however the toxicity may not give a major role in damaging the liver tissues.