Phytochemical Investigation and the Effects of Aqueous Plant Extracts of Viscum Album on Antioxidant Property and Biochemical Profile as a Measure of its Therapeutic Value

The aim of the research was to investigate the phytochemical compounds inherent in the aqueous plant extracts of Viscum album, its antioxidant property and the effects on biochemical parameters in wistar rats. Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin, carbohydrate, reducing sugar, protein, cardiac glycoside and steroidal aglycon in both the leaf and stem extracts, although the stem extract showed higher concentration of the phytochemical compounds compared to that of the leaf extract. The plant extracts possessed antioxidant properties using the DPPH free radical scavenging method. Biochemical results showed significant reduction in the concentrations of liver enzyme markers such as Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) suggesting that the aqueous plant extracts possessed hepatoprotective property. There were also significant reduction in the levels of glucose, cholesterol, Triglyceride, Total protein, Albumin, Creatinine and Urea.