Abstract

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CRASSOCEPHALUM RUBENS LEAVES ON CARBON TETRACHLORIDE - INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN RATS

Olusola Bolaji Adewale*, Amos Onasanya, Scholastica Onyebuchi Anadozie, Catherine Jimbia Ogbole, Idowu Anthonia Akintan, Miriam Favour Abu

Abstract

Natural products, most especially from plant origin, possess antioxidant properties which are known to play crucial roles in preventing and treating various pathological conditions occasioned by free radicals. Crassocephalum rubens is a one of those plants, and this study investigated the protective properties of ethanolic extract of C. rubens (EECR) leaves against hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Thirty rats divided into 6 groups (n=5) were used for the investigation. Group 1 served as normal control while groups 2, 3 and 4 were pretreated for 21 days with EECR leaves at 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 450 mg/kg b.w. respectively, prior to a single intraperitoneal administration of CCl4. Animals in groups 5 received only the extract at a dose of 450 mg/kg body weight while animals in group 6 were given only CCl4. All animals were sacrificed 24 h after the administration of CCl4. CCl4 significantly (p < 0.05) induced marked hepatic damage as revealed by increased activities of plasma ALT, AST, GGT and ALP. Also, plasma total protein and albumin were significantly decreased in CCl4-treated animals relative to normal control. Analyses of antioxidant status showed that CCl4 elicited a significant decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, with an increase in malondialdehyde levels in liver. Pre-treatment with the EECR leaves at all doses tested however, significantly (p

Keywords: Antioxidants; Carbon tetrachloride; Crassocephalum rubens; Hepatic; Hepatoprotective.