Browsing by Author "Ukairo, Doris Ifeyinwa"

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    Effects of some indigenous plant extracts on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in male wistar rats
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2017-11) Ukairo, Doris Ifeyinwa
    Plant-derived drugs and antioxidants are widely used in the management of chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. Methanol extracts of raw (R) and cooked (C) samples of Sphenostylis stenocarpa (SS), Chromolaena odorata (CO), Buccholzia coriacea (BC) and Monodora myristica (MM), at doses of 250 mg and 500 mg per kilogram body weight of male Wistar rats were evaluated for their effects on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis. One hundred and sixty (160) rats (155 ± 20 g) were distributed into twenty groups of eight rats each; representing normal control, olive oil control, negative control, positive control (silymarin) and various groups treated with raw and cooked extracts of the samples at the stated doses (RSS250, RSS500, CSS250, CSS500, RCO250, CCO250, etc.). The extract-treated groups were pre-treated with their respective extracts twice a week for four weeks before the introduction of toxicant. All the groups except normal and olive oil controls were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mg/kg of CCl4/olive oil (1:1 v/v) mixture twice a week for four weeks with continued extract-treatment. Liver and kidney damage were assessed using various biochemical parameters, such as the enzymes; alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phospatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, as well as bilirubin, urea, creatinine, electrolytes and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. In addition, CCl4-induced pathological changes were evaluated by histopathological studies and the expression of collagen as evidence of induced fibrosis confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Treatment with methanol extracts of SS, BC and MM especially at low concentrations significantly (P<0.05) ameliorated the effects of CCl4 intoxication by reducing hepatic enzymes and LDH activities and as well increased other parameters. The effects of the extracts were attributed to the phytochemical compositions of the plants. The findings provided evidence to show that methanol extracts of SS, BC and MM at low concentrations possessed antifibrotic and hepatoprotective properties against CCl4-induced liver injury in male Wistar rats through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.