HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED HEPATIC DAMAGE IN RATS

The leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum was studied for hepatoprotective activity against rats with induced liver damage by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The rats were divided into five groups of eight rats per group. Animals of group A served as normal and were given only vehicle (distilled water) for 7 days. Animals of group B (positive control) were administered with vehicle on the first four days, and with the vehicle and CCl4 on the fifth, sixth and seventh day. The animals of groups C, D and E were respectively administered with 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg of extract & distilled water for the first four days, and with distilled water, extract and CCl4 on the last three days. Animals were subsequently anaesthetized and blood samples were collected for alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, total protein and albumin assays; liver organ was isolated and processed for histopathological studies. The results showed that the levels of AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin were significantly higher in rats treated with CCl4 indicating liver injury, while these parameters were reduced significantly (p < 0.05) after treatment of rats with the extract. The hepatoprotective activity of C. albidum was also supported by histopathological studies of liver tissue. The liver tissue of rats in the group treated with CCl4 showed marked centrilobular fatty degeneration and necrosis while the groups treated with plant extract showed signs of protection against this toxicant as evidenced by the absence of necrosis