PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF COMBRETUM ZENKERI ON LIVER FUNCTIONS OF ALBINO RATS FOLLOWING BENZO(A)PYRENE EXPOSURE

Okwu, G. N., Ogbonna, C. U., Ujowundu, C. O., Igwe, K. O., Igwe, C. U. and Emejulu, A. A.

Abstract: This study investigated the protective effect of ethanol leaf extract of Combretum zenkeri on liver functions of albino rats exposed to Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) with oxidant, inflammatory and carcinogenic effects. Acute toxicity analysis with the plant extract produced no lethality even at high doses. In this study, male albino rats were divided into 5 groups; the first group served as normal control and were not administered either benzo(a)pyrene or ethanol leaf extract of C. zenkeri. The 2nd group was treated intraperitoneally(i.p) with 200 mg/kg benzo(a)pyrene only once and were not administered ethanol leaf extract of C. zenkeri. The 3rd group were exposed to 200 mg/kg BaP (i.p) and after two weeks were treated with 400 mg/kg ethanol leaf extract of C. zenkeri, while the fourth group were treated with 400 mg/kg ethanol leaf extract of C. zenkeri for two weeks before exposure to 200 mg/kg BaP.The fifth group was treated orally with 400mg/kg plant extract only.In each case, C. zenkeri treatment was on alternate days and the duration of the studies was for four weeks. Blood samples were used for biochemical analyses and liver tissues for histology.The malondialdehyde, total bilirubin concentrations and ALT and AST activity of groups exposed to benzo(a)pyrene without treatment were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those treated with the leaf extract before or after benzo(a)pyrene exposure. The GSH, total protein and albumin concentrations of groups exposed to benzo(a)pyrene without treatment were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the control animals and those treated with the leaf extract together with benzo(a)pyrene exposure. Histological slides of the liver tissue showed a better outcome in the plant extract treated groups. The results of the study showed that C. zenkeri has a potential to ameliorate and repair damage to liver tissues.

Keywords: Combretum zenkeri, benzo(a)pyrene, oxidative damage, liver function.

Pages: 16 – 25 | Full PDF Paper