ABSTRACT

Native to tropical Africa, the bark, leaves and roots of the Ficus exasperata tree are used in traditional medicine for various proposes, including treating skin conditions, respiratory issues and gastrointestinal problems.1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) is a carcinogen which is known to induce liver toxicity. DMH is metabolized in the liver to methylazoxymethanol (MAM), which is a toxic compound, it is toxic to the liver and causes oxidative stress. The oxidative stress caused by DMH on the liver leads to increased level of liver malondialdehyde. Through the assessment of various markers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), white blood cell count (WBC), lymphocyte count, monocyte count, and granulocyte count, this study was aimed to comprehensively understand the impact of Ficus exasperata on liver health and immune function. A total of thirty-five (35) male wistar albino rats weighing from 130 g - 250 g were used for this study. They were separated into seven groups containing five animals each. Group 1 was the control, Group 2 were given the plant leaf extract only (400 mg/kg body weight), Group 3 were given stem only (250 mg/kg body weight), Group 4  were give DMH only (20 mg/kg body weight), Group 5 were given DMH and plant leaf extract (20 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight respectively), Group 6 were given DMH and plant stem bark extract (20 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg body weight respectively) and Group 7 were given DMH, plant leaf and plant stem bark extract (20 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 125 mg/kg body weight respectively). In particular, Ficus exasperata-treated groups showed different responses in oxidative stress and immune parameters. Group 6 displayed significantly increased levels (p < 0.05) of SOD (1.676 ± 0.03810 U/g wet tissue) and catalase (45.63 ± 9.947 U/g wet tissue) compared to other groups. Suggesting that Ficus exasperata supplementation may increase antioxidant defenses, which may decrease oxidative stress induced by DMH exposure. Group 4 displayed elevated MDA levels (6.146 ± 1.185 mmol/g tissue), indicative of increased lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, while Group 3 exhibited reduced MDA levels (1.906 ± 0.7497 mmol/g tissue), suggesting a potential protective effect of Ficus exasperata against oxidative damage. Group 4 in particular shows diminished levels of catalase ( 7.682 ± 0.3886 U/g wet tissue) and GPx (31.83 ± 6.985 U/g wet tissue), indicative of compromised antioxidant capacity. Group 6 demonstrated enhanced immune response, characterized by elevated WBC (5.767 ± 0.8950 × 103/µL) and lymphocyte counts (5.267 ± 0.8110 × 103/µL), potentially highlighting the immunomodulatory effects of Ficus exasperata supplementation. This experiment shows the effect of Ficus exasperata on oxidative stress markers and immune function parameters in the context of DMH-induced liver toxicity. These findings have important implications for the development of new methods of treatment targeted at reducing oxidative stress and improving immunological function in order to optimize liver health. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms and determine the possible curative value of Ficus exasperata in liver damage.