Jude Ogechukwu Okoye, Deborah Adanna Nwachukwu, Isaac Nwoye Nnatuanya, Arvin Nwakulite, Innocent Alozie, Patrick Ebele Obi and Gideon Taiwo Faloye
the objective of this study was to explore the hepatoprotective and hepatocurative effects of aqueous stem bark extract of Annona muricata. This experimental controlled study was carried out between the May and July, 2015. A total of 36 male albino rats of age 2 weeks, mean weight of 88.03 g, were randomly divided into six groups. The groups designated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were orally administered 1ml of distilled water, 300 mg/kg of acetaminophen for 7 days, 300 mg/kg of acetaminophen for 7 days and allowed to heal naturally, 300 mg/kg of acetaminophen for 7 days and 25 mg/kg aqueous stem bark extract of Annona muricata for another 7days), 25 mg/kg aqueous stem bark extract of Annona muricata for 7 days, and (25 mg/kg aqueous stem bark extract of Annona muricata for 7 days and 300 mg/kg of acetaminophen for another 7 days, respectively. The experiment lasted for 14 days. Blood and liver samples were collected and investigated using the Reitman and Frankel, Kinetic, Haematoxylin and Eosin methods. Result showed significant increase in serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP; 220.80±38.27 to 532.20±135.06), aspartate transaminase (AST; 29.00±7.31 to 60.83±24.11), alanine transaminase (ALT; 6.60±1.94 to 20.66±10.50) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; 313.00±153.88 to 691.00±444.29) when group 1 was compared with group 2 (p<0.05). Liver microscopy of group 2 showed evidence of cholestasis and necrosis. It also showed minimal change in tissue architecture with concomitant significant decrease in serum levels of ALP (244.83±55.92), AST (28.50±14.33), ALT (6.00±1.89) and LDH (306.60±113.69) when group 6 was compared with group 2 (p<0.05). In conclusion, the biochemical analysis and liver microscopy of this study suggests that aqueous stem bark extract of Annona muricata possess significant hepatoprotective, anticholestasis and antisinusoidal congestion properties.
