ABSTRACT

Hepatitis is a general name given to the inflammation of the liver. The causes of hepatitis include virus, drug, alcohol and chemical such as mercury chloride. Mercury chloride is a toxic laboratory reagent of mercury and chlorine. Mercury chloride reacts with cell and vessels of the hepatic tissues to cause infiltration of the periportal inflammatory cells. Tamarindus indica is a plant with high medicinal values capable of given protective roles against liver damage   caused by mercury chloride. This research work aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous fruits extract of Tamarindus indica on mercury chloride-induced hepatitis in adults wistar rats. The specific objectives of  this work were to: investigate the effects of aqueous fruits extract of Tamarindus indica on body and organ weights  in rats treated with mercury chloride.Investigate the effects of aqueous fruits extract of Tamarindus indica  on hepatic oxidative stress makers in adult Wistar rats treated with mercury chloride .Determine the effects of aqueous fruits extract of Tamarindus indica on the liver enzymes of adult wistar rats treated with mercury chloride .Investigate the effects of aqueous fruits extract of Tamarindus indica on the histology of the liver of rats induced with mercury chloride .Analyse the phytochemical constituents of Tamarindus indica extact.This work was  done with 42  adult wistar rats weighing between 150g to 200g, these rats were randomly distributed into six groups. Group A was used as control, group B served as mercury chloride only at a dose of 1mg/kg, group C: 250mgkg body weight of  aqueous fruits extract of Tamarindus indica  only, group D: 500mg/kg body weight of aqueous fruits extract of Tamarindus indica  only, group E received 250mgkg body weight of  aqueous fruits extract of Tamarindus indica and 1mgkg body weight of mercury chloride, and group F received 500mgkg body weight of aqueous fruits extract of  Tamarindus indica  with 1mgkg body weight of mercury chloride. The administration of both mercury chloride and Tamarindus indica extract lasted for sixty days simultaneously mercury chloride was administered two times in a week while the aqueous fruits extract of Tamarindus indica was orally administered daily. After sixty days the rats were sacrificed and liver tissues were collected for histological analysis and oxidative stress makers analysis.  from phytochemicals analysis showed that Tamarindus indica have phytochemicals such as reducing sugar and protein capable of causing cell regeneration. The biochemical results showed that mercury chloride caused a significant reduction in the body weights, a significant increase in the liver weight, significant reduction in the organ to body weight ratio which were all reversed by consequent treatment with Tamarindus indica. In the test for oxidative stress, the markers showed a significant increase in total protein levels and a significant increase in MDA levels which were also reversed by Tamarindus indica administration. Liver enzymes including AST, ALT, ALP, TB and CB were significantly increased by mercury chloride administration and this increase was reversed after treatment with Tamarindus indica. The histopathology results showed that mercury chloride can cause bile duct epitheliosis, severe vasodilatation, zonal necrosis, periportal infilteration of inflammatory cells,vascular ulceration and congestion ,And the aqueous fruit extract of Tamarindus indica was  able to protect  the liver against damages caused mercury chloride by activation and mobilization of lymphocytes around the vessels. In liver function test reactions also indicated that Tamarindus indica protective roles against hepatitis is dosage dependent. However, 250mgkg body weight of Tamarindus indica extract proved to be More potent than 500mgkg body weight of Tamarindus indica extract. Based on this research, it can be concluded that Tamarindus indica can be used as a protective supplement to both histological and biochemical parameters against damage caused by Mercury chloride in the liver.