| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 3 | Page : 124-131 |
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Hepatoprotective effect of methanolic leaf extract of Anacardium occidentale (cashew) on carbon-tetrachloride-induced liver toxicity in wistar rats
Daniel Ikyembe, Coston Pwavodi, Abel Nosereme Agbon
Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Abel Nosereme Agbon
Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2384-5147.138938
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Context: Anacardium occidentale (cashew) leaf is used medicinally to treat various kinds of diseases such as diabetes, fever, bronchitis, and cetera, in different parts of the world, including Nigeria. Liver diseases are a worldwide problem. Medicinal plants are being increasingly utilized to treat a wide variety of diseases, liver disorder inclusive. Aim: This study investigated the hepatoprotective activity of pre-treatment with methanolic leaf extract of A. occidentale (MLAO) against carbon-tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 Wistar rats were divided into five groups I-V of four rats each. Group I was the control, while groups II-V were treatment groups. Groups V and IV were administered MLAO (500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg, oral, respectively); III administered silymarin (100 mg/kg, oral) as the reference drug and group II administered CCl 4 only. Treatment lasted a week. Twelve hours after the last treatment, hepatotoxicity was induced in the treatment group animals by administering a single dose of CCl 4 (1 ml; 1:1 solution:oil, oral). Hepatoprotective effect was studied by histological and serum marker enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]) analysis. MLAO showed significant (P < 0.05) hepatoprotective effect by lowering the levels serum liver enzymes: AST, ALT, and ALP, which were in turn confirmed by histopathological examinations of liver sections and are comparable with the reference drug. Statistical Analysis Used: One-way analysis of variance. Results: Histological and biochemical examinations of the liver showed CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity. Pretreatment with MLAO, especially at dose 500 mg/kg, revealed hepatoprotective effect against chemically induced acute liver toxicity by preserving the histoarchitecture of the liver and significantly (P < 0.05) reducing of the serum marker enzymes. Conclusion: MLAO possesses significant hepatoprotective activity. |
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