THE EFFECTS OF HYDROETHANOL EXTRACT OF Chasmanthera dependens ON LIVER FUNCTION TEST PARAMETERS (ALT, AST, AND ALP) IN CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED TOXICITY

ABSTRACT

Chasmenthera dependenshave been reported to have biological activities such as hepatoprotective activity. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of the plant extract against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity. Liver injury is considered a result of exposure to high levels of environmental toxins, which are associated with metabolic dysfunction, ranging from the transient elevation of liver enzymes to life-threatening hepatic fibrosis. This study investigates the potential of the hydroethanol extract of C. dependens as a therapeutic agent against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. A total of 25 wistar rats were used for this experiment. They were grouped into five groups; Group 1 were normal rats that were given olive oil as vehicle and were neither induced nor treated, group 2 were the negative control, which were induced with carbon tetrachloride and no treatment was given, rats in group 3 were the positive control which were induced with carbon tetrachloride and treated with silymarin, rats in groups 4 and 5 were induced with carbon tetrachloride and treated with hydroethanol extracts of C. dependens in doses of 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg respectively. Alanine aminotransferase(ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase(AST), Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) concentrations were determined to assess the hepatoprotective effect of the plant. A nonsignificant(p>0.05) decrease were observed in ALP levels, whereas a significant(p<0.05) decrease were observed in AST levels while in ALT, only 250mg/kg of C. dependensgave a significant(p<0.05) decrease in its levels when compared with the untreated groups. The results of this study suggest that the 250mg/kg dosage ofhydroethanolextract ofC.dependens possess hepatoprotective effects hence can be useful in mitigation of liver damage.