The Hepato-Protective Potentials of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Cassia Occidentalis against Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Adult Wistar Rats

This study investigates the hepato-protective potentials of aqueous leaf extract of Cassia occidentalis onparacetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in adult Wistar rats. Twenty adult rats weighing between 150 – 300g were usedfor this study. They were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D), whereby group A served as thecontrol, while groups B, C and D served as test groups. Hepatotoxicity was induced in the test groups via oraladministration of paracetamol (800mg/kg bw). However, while groups C and D were treated for 21 days with250mg/kg and 500mg/kg/BW of Cassia occidentalis leaf extract respectively, group B was left untreated and servedas the test control. Using standard laboratory procedures, the livers were harvested, histologically processed, andexamined. Microscopy revealed normal histological hepatocytes in the control animals while those of test controlwere severe vascular congestion, periportal infiltrates of chronic inflammatory cells and periportal oedema.However, hepatic sections from groups C and D presented a dose dependent healing actions compared to thefeatures observed for group B (untreated hepatotoxic group). Judging by these findings therefore, one can assert thataqueous leaves extract of Cassia occidentalis may be hepato-protective against hepatotoxicity.Keywords: Cassia occidentalis, Hepatotoxicity, Paracetamol, Liver