EFFECT OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF Tetrapleura tetraptera ON LIVER FUNCTION TEST PARAMETERS IN CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED TOXICITY IN MALE WISTAR RATS

ABSTRACT

Tetrapleura tetraptera is one of the medicinal plants that have served all through the ages as the mainstay in the treatment and preservation of human health. This research was designed to determine the effect of ethanol extract of T. tetraptera on hepatic markers (ALT, ALP, and AST) in carbon tetrachloride-induced wistar rats. All chemicals and reagents used in this study were of analytical grade. Liver damage was induced through intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Twenty five (25) rats were randomly distributed into five (5) groups of 5 rats each as follows: Group 1 were normal rats that were given olive oil as a vehicle and where neither induced nor treated, rats in group 2 were the negative control, which were induced with carbon tetrachloride and no treatment was given, rats in group 3 were the positive control which were induced with carbon tetrachloride and treated with silymarin, rats in groups 4 and 5 were induced with carbon tetrachloride and treated with ethanol extract of T. tetraptera in doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg respectively. Hepatic markers were assayed using standard biochemical methods. The study lasted for 42 days. After an overnight fast, blood samples were collected from the animals after anaesthesia via cardiac puncture. Carbon tetrachloride injection led to increase in the levels of ALT, ALP, and AST as shown in the results from the negative control groups. Interestingly, the T. tetraptera ethanol extract performed better at the dose of 250 mg/kg. In conclusion, the results from this research indicated that ethanol extract of T. tetraptera optimally lowered the activities of liver enzymes in CCl4 -induced wistar rats at a dose of 250 mg/kg than at a higher dose of 500 mg/kg. The findings in this study suggest that T. tetraptera ethanol extract possess hepatoprotective potentials and hence can be used to ameliorate hepatic dysfunctionassociated diseases. Further study is however advocated to unravel the mechanism of action of this plant and determine the best dosage.