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Evaluation of
the antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of the
methanolic extract of Acalypha racemosa leaf
in carbon tetrachloride-treated rats
Iniaghe, O. M.1*, Malomo, S.
O.2, Adebayo, J. O.2, and Arise, R. O.2
1Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ambrose Alli
University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
2Department
of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
iniaghe@yahoo.com.
Tel: +234 803 6484 014.
Accepted 9 May, 2008 |
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The effects of simultaneous treatment of CCl4
with 60 and 120 mg/kg body weight of methanolic extract of
Acalypha racemosa on rat liver were evaluated.
Analysis of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and
aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities with those of
the concentrations of albumin, total protein, unconjugated
and total bilirubin was carried out. The malondialdehyde
(MDA) content of liver was determined to investigate a
probable mechanism of action of the extract.
Histopathological studies were carried out to confirm the
observed changes. Administration of CCl4 alone to
rats significantly increased total bilirubin concentration
and the activities of ALT and AST (p<0.05) in the serum
while it significantly reduced (p<0.05) serum total protein
and albumin concentrations when compared with controls.
Also, it significantly increased (p<0.05) liver MDA content
when compared to control. However, simultaneous
administration of CCl4 with 60 and 120 mg/kg of
the methanolic extract significantly (p<0.05) reversed these
changes. Since both doses of the methanolic extract of A.
racemosa were able to significantly reduce liver MDA
content, it thus suggests that a probable mechanism of
action of the extract is antioxidation.
Key words:
Acalypha racemosa,
hepatoprotective property, antioxidant effect. |
