Hepatoprotective effects of ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of Harungana madagascariensis on acetaminophen-induced toxicity in rats

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of stem bark extracts of Haronga (Harungana madagascariensis) in rats using Silymarin as a reference drug and to evaluate the phytochemicals contents of the bark extracts. Pilot toxicity studies conducted with administration of three doses of extracts of H. madagascariensis did not show toxicity effects. Phytochemical tests were conducted on the extracts to determine the contents. Gradient solvent extraction using Chloroform and Ethyl acetate were carried out to obtain extracts that were tested for hepatoprotective activities in 30 Albino rats divided equally into five groups. Two groups were administered with Chloroform and Ethyl acetate extracts for 7 days, given acetaminophen (750mg/kg), continued with the extracts until day 10. One group was administered with distilled water for 7 days and then acetaminophen (750mg/kg) on day 8. Another group was given Silymarin (100mg/kg) for 7 days and acetaminophen (750mg/kg) on day 8. The rats were anaesthetized and 5ml of blood was collected from each for determining biochemical parameters. The rats were sacrificed and liver and kidney were excised for histopathology. The H. madagascariensis bark extracts contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and terpenoids but lack anthraquinone and cardiac glycosides. Chloroform extracts caused increase in blood urea and creatinine levels compared to Silymarin and decrease alkaline phosphatase (ATP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels than the paracetamol group and increase in total protein compared to the ethyl acetate group. Extract of ethyl acetate showed slight difference in the level of serum biochemical parameters compared to Silymarin group making it a more effective extract. Histopathology of the liver administered with acetaminophen showed thinning of the hepatocytes but no visible lesions in the rats administered with ethyl acetate extract. In conclusion, H. madagascariensis solvent extract possessed hepatoprotective activity and Ethyl acetate extract was more potent than Chloroform extract.