Hepatoprotective Effects of Aqueous and Methanolic Leaves Extracts of Azadiracta Indica Against Carbon Tetrachloride (CCL4) Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Abstract

The hepatoprotective effects of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage was determined in this study. A total of thirty-five (35) wistar rats were divided into seven (7) groups, each containing five (5) rats. The modified procedure for inducing hepatotoxicity by carbon tetrachloride was used, all Wister rats in Group I (Control) were administered with 1 ml/kg body weight dosage of liquid paraffin daily from the first to the fifth day. However, from the second to the fifth day, all wister rats in Group II (Induced Control), Group III (Test group), Group IV (Test group), Group V (Test group), and Group VI (Test group) were administered with 1 ml/kg body weight of liquid paraffin containing 40% carbon tetrachloride, 1 ml/kg body weight of CCl4 and a 50 mg/kg body weight daily oral dose of aqueous leaf extract, 1 ml/kg body weight of CCl4 and 150 mg/kg body weight of aqueous leaf extract (orally), 1 ml/kg body weight of CCl4 and a daily oral dose of 50 mg/kg body weight of methanol leaf extract, 1 ml/kg body weight of CCl4 and 150 mg/kg body weight of methanolic leaf extract orally, 1 ml/kg body weight of CCl4 and an oral dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of Silymarin respectively, with CCl4 injected intraperitoneally. Hepatoprotective effects of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of A. indica were determined by evaluating the liver function enzymes namely; Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Total bilirubin (T. bil) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Results showed weight gain in groups (I, III, IV, V, VI, and VII) and weight loss in group II. Significant (p < 0.05) increase in levels of AST, ALT, ALP, and T.BIL in CCl4-intoxicated rats were restored through normalization in aqueous and methanolic extracts’ treated rats in a dose-dependent manner. The aqueous extracts (150mg/kg body weight), methanolic leaf extracts (150mg/kg body weight) and silymarin (100mg/kg) showed potential hepatoprotective effects with a significant decrease (p < 0.05). The study suggests that aqueous and methanolic leaf treatments of A. indica has shown to be a potentially good hepatoprotective medicinal plant at a higher dose of 150mg/kg body weight.