ABSTRACT
Hepatotoxicity is defined as injury to the liver or impairment of the liver function caused by exposure to xenobiotic such as drugs, food additives, alcohol, chlorinated solvents, peroxidized fatty acids, fungal toxins, radioactive isotopes, environmental toxic-ants, and even some medicinal plants. Mercury (ii) chloride (HgCl2) is also known to cause Hepatotoxicity. Mercury is ranked third by the US Government Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the most toxic elements or substances on the planet to arsenic and lead that continues to be dumped into our waterways and soil, spilled into our atmosphere, and consumed in our food and water. Newbouldia laevis is one of those plants that have many several therapeutic properties and has the properties which was proven to ameliorate the hepatotoxicity. A total of twenty five rats weighing 110g-200g were assigned into groups (A, B, C, D, & E) of five rats per groups. The rats had free access to grower mash feed (Top feed mills, Nigera) throughout the entire study period. Group A Which served as control were administered 1ml of distilled H2O, Group B, and C were orally administered aqueous extracts of Newbouldia laevis at doses of 200 and 800mg/kg body weight and HgCl2 of 10mg/kg body weights respectively. Group D were administered HgCl2 of 10mg/kg body weights only and Group E were administered HgCl2 of 10mg/kg body weight with 500mg/kg of standard drug silymarin. Orogastric tube were used to administered extracts, toxicants and standard drug (silymarin) respectively. On the 28th day the rats were sacrificed. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized using chloroform anaesthesia. Their liver were harvested and fixed in 10% formal saline and taken to the Histopathology department in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City for hitological processing using H&E stains for microscopy. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using the IBM SPSS statistics software (statistical package for social science) (Version 25) and relevant statistical values were obtained. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out and data were presented as mean ± SEM.LSD post-hoc test were used. Values of P<0.05 were considered significant. The statistical values obtained converted into graphical representations in the form of bar charts. Results show there were statistically significant increases (P<0.05) of body weights in all groups, when the initial body weight were compared to the final body weights. There were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) in hepatic weight across the groups. There was no statically significant difference in the liver enzymes, However there was an increase in Alkaline phospatase(U/L).In conclusion, Newbouldia laevis has an ameliorating effects on damaged liver tissues with the high dosage been the most potent
