You have no items in your shopping cart.
ABSTRACT
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal known to cause severe damage to various organs, including the liver. Centella asiatica is a medicinal plant whose antioxidants and other medical properties have been reported by several researchers. The aim of this research was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of the ethanolic leaf extract of Centella asiatica on mercury chloride induced liver damage on adult Wistar rats. Twenty-five adult Wistar rats weighing average of 180g were randomly allocated into five experimental groups of five (5) animals each. Group A was control; GroupB was administered mercury chloride only; Group C was mercury and low dose (250mg/kgbody weight) of extract, Group D was mercury chloride and high dose (500mg/kgbodyweight) of extract. Group E was administered (500mg/kg body weight) of extract alone. Administration was done orally for 28days with the aid of an orogastric tube. At theendof the experimental period, the rats were weighed and sacrificed using chloroform asanasthesia. Blood samples were collected in heparin bottles for biochemical analysis. The liver was harvested from the animals that were sacrificed and was fixedin10%formal-saline. Haematoxylin and eosin were used for histological studies and analysis. After tissue processing the result showed no significant in body weight, organ weight and relative organ weight among all the groups. The oxidative stress result showed on significant change in total protein, glutathione peroxidase and glutathioneinserum. However, there was a significant increase in the MDA in Group Bmercurychloride when compared to control. There was a significant decrease in SOD in GroupB. Group D however showed a significant increase when compared to Group B. there was no significant decrease in catalase in Group B when compared to control but GroupEhad a significant increase when compared to Group B. In liver function test for alaninetransaminase in serum and aspartate transaminase in serum the result shows a statistically significant increase in the group administered with mercury chloridealoneas well as the mercury +HD group. Additionally, the group administered with the mercury +LD and HD only of the extract had a statistically significant decrease when compared to the mercury group. In albumin, bilirubin and total protein in serum there is no significant difference among all the groups. Histological slides in GroupA liver control showed normal histological features with central vein (CV) surrounded by hepatocytes (h) and sinusoids (S). In Group B showed the liver treated with Hgcl only. Showed dilated ad congested portal vein; periportal infiltrates of inflammatory cells as well as activation of kupffer cells (H). In group C showed liver treated withHgcl and250mg/kg of the extract showing mild interstitial congestion (IC) as well as infiltrates of inflammatory cells. Group D showed treated with Hgcl and 500mg/kg of extracts showing normal histological features with central vein surrounded by hepatoctyes. Group E treated with extract only, showed normal histological features with central veinsurrounded by hepatoctyes. However, high doses of Centella asiatica revived the damage induced by mercury chloride. In conclusion, Centella asiatica has mitigating effect on damaged liver tissues with high dose being more potent.
