ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of ethanol extract of the root of Raphiostylis beninensis on CCl4- induced hepatoxicity in rat model were some biochemical indices were assayed in serum as well as liver and kidney homogenate.
Forty-five adult male rats divided into nine groups of five rats each were used. Group 1 received distilled water and feed only. Group 2 (negative control) received Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Group 3 and 4 received 150mg/kg and 300mg/kg of extract for 8 days prior to the administration of CCl4 for 4 days. Group 5 and 6 received CCl4 for 4 days prior to treatment with 150mg/kg and 300mg/kg extract for 8 days. Group 7 and 8 received CCl4 for 4 days prior to treatment with 150mg/kg and 300mg/kg extract. Group 9 received CCl4 and silymarin (standard hepatoprotective drug). At the end of the treatment, the rats were sacrificed through dissecting.
The result showed that AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and total bilirubin were significantly increased(p ≤ 0.05) in CCl4 treated group when compared to the control group. However, Co-treatment with ethanol extract of the root of Raphiostylis beninensis and CCl4 caused a significant decreased (p ≤ 0.05) in AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and total bilirubin when compared to rat which received CCL4 alone. Moreover serum, liver and kidney total protein, albumin and HDL cholesterol were significantly decreased(p ≤ 0.05) in CCl4- treated group, when compared to the control group, Co-treatment with ethanol root extract of Raphiostylis beninensis caused significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) in serum, liver and kidney total protein, albumin and HDL cholesterol when compared to rat which received CCl4 alone .Urea and Creatinine were significantly increased(p ≤ 0.05) in CCl4 alone group. However, treatment with ethanol extract of the root Raphiostylis beninensis caused significant decreases (p ≤ 0.05) in urea and creatinine, when compared to rats which received CCl4 alone. Assessment of oxidative stress indicators in this study showed that SOD, CAT and GPX were significantly decreased (p≤ 0.05) in CCl4-alone group, when compared to the control group, while MDA showed a significant increase(p ≤ 0.05) in CCl4 alone compared to control. However, treatment with ethanol root extract revealed that Raphiostylis beninensis caused significant increases (p≤ 0.05) in SOD, CAT and GPX and a decrease in MDA groups when administered with CCl4 compared to rats which received CCl4 alone. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that Raphiostylis beninensis root extract play an important role in the protection against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity by improving the biochemical indices in serum as well as liver and kidney homogenate. Therefore, Raphiostylis beninensis may be used to protect against the hepatotoxic effects of CCl4 and other chemical agents.
