HEPATO-PROTECTIVE POTENTIALS OF TEPHROSIA LINEARIS (WILLD.) PERS EXTRACT ON ACETOMINOPHEN INDUCED HEPATO TOXICITY IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Garba M. H.*, Ampitan A. T., Halidu S. K. and Omotugba S. K.

ABSTRACT

The main thrust of the study was investigate the proctective potentials of stem bark extract of Tephrosia linearis in acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in experimental animals. Thirty experimental animals (Wistar rats) were grouped into six. Groups I and II were the placebo and the standard group respectively. Group III were the negative treatments hepato-toxified by sub chronic oral administration of acetaminophen at a dosage of 250 mg/kgbw daily for three consecutive days. Groups IV, V and VI were hepato-toxified as in III and thereafter, followed up with treatment with 70% methanol stem bark extract of Tephrosia linearis at a dosage of 200, 400 and 600 mg/Kgbw on daily basis for three weeks (21 days). There was significant decrease (P≤ 0.05) in both haematological and serum biochemical parameters of induced animals compared to the placebo and standard treatment at the onset of the treatment. Thereafter a significant increase (P≤ 0.05) was observed in the HB, PCV, MCV, RBC and TWBC with a corresponding decrease ((P≤ 0.05) in the platelets count in the groups treated. Similarly, significant increase (P≤ 0.05) in the serum AST, ALT, ALP, Total protein, direct and indirect biluribin and ICDH with a concomitant decrease ((P≤ 0.05) in GDH was also observed in the treated groups compared to the negative control. The inadequacy of herbs used in curing of liver diseases and other dysfunctions caused by allopathic drugs is enough reason to focus on systematic scientific research to evaluate some species of plants that are traditionally claimed to possess hepato-curative activities.

Keywords: Acetominophen, Hepatotoxicity, Sub-chronic, Tephrosia linearis, Haematological indices, Biochemical indices, CYP450 enzymes, Wistar Albino rats.