Authors: Kenneth C. Nwachukwu, Joseph O. Mba, Godwin S. Aloh and Michael P. Okoh
This study was aimed at investigating the effect of methanol extract of Napoleonae imperialis leaves against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic damage in albino rats. Thirty (30) male albino rats of mean weight 130 g were used for this study. The animals for the study were grouped into five (5) of six (6) rats each. Group A received feed and water only and Group B was induced with CCl4 without treatment. Test groups (C and D) were orally given 250 mg and 500 mg/kg b.wt of leaves extract, and group E was given orally the extract only (500mg/kg b.wt) respectively for 14 days. All the rats were initially subjected to hepatocyte damage using 2.0 ml/ kg of CCl4 except the normal control group. The rats were sacrificed after 14 days and the blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. The result obtained showed a significant decrease (p< 0.05) in (Aspatate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT), Alanine phosphatase (ALP), albumin, total protein and total cholesterol) in the test groups treated with 250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight of the plant extract, unlike the positive control where the liver parameters were still high which could be as a result of hepatocellular damage by CCl4 without treatment. Also there was a significant (p< 0.05) decrease in comparison of the control groups and the group that received the extract only (500 mg/kg b.wt). The results of this study indicate that the methanol extract of Napoleonae imperialis may have exerted hepatoprotective effects in albino rats. Moving forward, this plant should be further studied for drug formulation, geared toward more effective management of organ toxicity and hepatoprotective drugs.
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