ABSTRACT

Dibutyl phthalate is a plasticiser and an endocrine disrupting chemical. It is not just harmful to the gonads but also the liver. In this study, the ameliorating potentials of methanol extract of Gongronema latifolium leaves on dibutyl phthalate-induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated. Twenty eight male albino wistar rats weighing 190.74 ± 18.92g divided into four groups consisting of seven rats each were used for this experiment. All rats were treated orally via gavage for 14 days. The group 1 served as the control group was administered olive oil while group 2 was treated with dibutyl phthalate only (500 mg/kg body weight). Groups 3 and 4 were co-treated with dibutyl phthalate and Gongronema latifolium leaf extract at doses of 400 and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively. Following this, plasma hepatic enzymes and histopathology were analysed for all the rats. Biochemically, the plasma ALT, AST and ALP activities were not significantly altered (p<0.05) in dibutyl phthalate treated group. Group 3 rats showed no significant alteration in plasma ALP and AST level. However, there was a significant increase in plasma ALT activities. There was little to no significant difference in the plasma ALT and AST activities in group four rats but a significant reduction in ALP activities was observed.  Histological section through the liver showed inflammation and necrosis in rats in group 2. However, the histology cross section in group 3 and 4 appeared to have recovered from the damages induced by dibutyl phthalate. These results showed that methanol extract of Gongronema latifolium leaves ameliorated dibutyl phthalate-induced hepatotoxicity induced by restoring the morphology of the liver in a dose dependent manner.