Hepatoprotective Effect of Methanol Stem Bark Extract of Diospyros mespiliformis against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Liver Damage

Aim: This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of methanol stem bark extract of Diospyros mespiliformis against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in albino rats.

Methodology: Acute toxicity study was determined using limit fixed dose test of 5000mg/kg for 14 days. Six (6) adult albino rats of both sexes were used and randomly divided into six groups of one rat each. Hepatoprotective study; a total of forty two (42) adult albino rats were divided in to seven groups, of six rats each. Methanol stem bark extract of Diospyros mespiliformis administered to different groups of rats at the doses of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg orally daily for fourteen. This was followed by CCl4-administration after every 72 hours for the same period. Silymarin a standard reference drug was administered at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight orally, once daily for fourteen (14) days. Hepatoprotective effect was studied by assaying the activities of liver function indices (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyl transferase, total protein, albumin, direct and total bilirubin) in serum.

Results: The LD50 of methanol stem bark extract of Diospyros mespiliformis was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The activities of all the marker enzymes revealed a significant (P<0.05) elevated levels and decreased in the levels of total protein and albumin in CCl4 treated rats. Group administered with the extract prior to CCl4 induction show significantly low level of serum liver marker enzymes and increased levels of total protein and albumin compared to CCl4-induced untreated group and this observations is supported by the histology of liver sections, the result indicate that methanol stem bark extract of Diospyros mespiliformis possess significant hepatoprotective property by inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Conclusion: This property may be attributed to the phytochemical compounds present in the extract.