Hepatoprotective Effects of Crude Stem Bark Extracts and Solvent Fractions of Cordia Africana Lam(Boraginaceae) against Acetaminophen-induced Liver Injury in Rats
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Date
2021-02
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Liver diseases are the major worldwide health problem about 50% of which is drug-induced
hepatotoxicity. Cordia africana Lam. (Boraginaceae) is widely used in Ethiopian folk medicine
for treatment of different types of liver disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate
hepatoprotective effects of aqueous (CAAE) and 80% methanol extracts of C. africana stem bark
(CAME) and the solvent fractions of the CAME against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver
injury in rats. APAP, 2 g/kg given orally, was used to induce liver injury. Blood samples were
taken and serum levels of liver enzymes, and total bilirubin (TB) as well as lipid profiles were
determined. Histopathological examination of liver tissues was conducted to confirm the
findings of biochemical analysis. Intra-peritoneal (I.P) sodium pentobarbital (SPB)-induced sleep
duration was also used to determine the protective effect of the test substances. Oral
administration of APAP (2 g/kg) resulted in a significant increase in serum levels of alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) (227.80±40.80), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (417.73±67.10),
alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (248.33±34.55), TB (0.19±0.05), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
(13.03±1.70), total cholesterol (TC) (45.95±3.30) and triglycerides (TGs) (114.35±12.14) and
decrease in serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (19.90±3.44). The levels of all these
biomarkers were reversed by the standard drug, silymarin 100 mg/kg. Administration of both
crude extracts at different doses and fractions also reversed serum levels of all the parameters
tested to ward normal. CAME exerted significant dose-dependent hepatoprotective effects in
terms of ALT and AST, while the CAAE showed similar activity in terms of AST, ALP and
TGs. The results of histopathological investigations confirmed the hepatoprotective effects
shown in the biochemical analysis. C. africana stem bark crude extracts and the solvent fractions
of the methanol extract showed hepatoprotective effects.
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Keywords
Cordia africana, Ethiopia, Blood biomarkers, Liver enzymes, Lipid profiles, Liver disease, Hepatoprotective effect, Acetaminophen, Silymarin.