Kingsley .C. Patrick-Iwuanyanwu, Matthew. O. Wegwu and Talat Makhmoor
The methanolic extract and fractions (ethyl acetate and butanol) of Senna alata, a major medicinal plant used in traditional medicine in Nigeria were evaluated for possible hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) – induced hepatotoxicity in wistar albino rats. Phytochemical screening indicates the presence of tannins, phlobatannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and saponins in the senna alata leaves. Administration of 2000mg/kg body weight of the crude methanolic extract did not produce any death in the rats within the observable period of 14 days. Treatment of rats with CCl4 -induced a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in serum total protein and albumin and a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in total and direct bilirubin associated with a marked elevation in the activities of serum marker enzymes namely alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) when compared with the control group. Lipid peroxidation in CCl4 – intoxicated rats was evidenced by a marked increase in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). However, simultaneous treatment of CCl4 with methanolic extract and fractions (EtOAc and BuOH) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) restored total protein and albumin to near normal level while the activities of ALT, AST, ALP, total and direct bilirubin and liver TBARS were significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) as compared to CCl4 – treated rats. The protective effects of methanolic extracts and fractions (EtOAc and BuOH) of leaves of Senna alata were further substantiated by histopathological examination of the liver hepatocytes. Our findings suggested that methanolic extract and fractions (EtOAc and BuOH) of leaves of Senna alata possess hepatoprotective effect against CCl4 – induced liver damage in rats and the methanolic extract at 2000mg/kg body weight appeared to be safe and non toxic when administered orally.
