ASSESSMENT OF CARDIAC FUNCTION IN CCL4-INDUCED RATS

ABSTRACT

This present study was aimed to ascertain the cardiac function in carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) induced rats pretreated with ethanol extract Phyllanthus amarus leaves. Phyllanthus amarus has been seen to have high traditional values for the treatment of disease conditions. The plant was obtained from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin and was identified at the department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology. The plant was dried indoor, under shade to prevent degrading of the plant active constituents by the rays of sunlight, these dried leaves were then grounded in a mechanical grinder. The grounded leaves were soaked in ethanol at 100g/ 1L for 72hours and freeze dried to obtain the extract. A total of 20 male Wistar Rats were obtained from a local vendor at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Benin and used in this study of which there was one mortality due to unknown causes. CCL4 was used to induce inflammation and heart damage, this was done orally, with the use of a gavage. Silymarin, a well known drug was also used. The plant ethanolic extract were given in doses of 200 mg/kg bwt and 400 mg/kg bwt. The result showed that the ethanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus that were pretreated to the male Wistar rats showed a reduce level of cardiac damage according to the cardiac assays carried out. There was a general rise in cardiac parameters, such as Total Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol, Creatine Kinase, Nitric Oxide, Alkaline Phosphatase, Aspartate Aminotransferase, due to the damage caused by Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4). There was also reduced concentration of HDL-Cholesterol and Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD). Pretreated doses of Phyllanthus amarus showed a reduction in heart dysfunction when the rats were later induced with CCL4. The use of ethanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus leaves caused a significant dose dependent decrease in the free radicals and significant dose dependent increase in HDLCholesterol and Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in attempt to restore a normal heart, showing that the levels of plant extract has cardioprotective effects.