Ethanol Extract of Dacryodes Edulis Seeds Suppresses Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage in Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

The protective effect of the ethanol extract of Dacryodes edulis seeds on the liver of rats exposed to Carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) was investigated. Thirty female albino rats of the Wistar strain were randomly allocated to six groups consisting of five rats each. Group A served as control. Groups B - D were given increasing oral doses (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight, respectively) of Dacryodes edulis extract daily for two weeks prior to the administration of a single dose of CCl 4 (3 ml/kg body weight) on the fourteenth day. Group E was given only Dacryodes edulis extract daily for two weeks, while group F received only a single dose of CCl 4 on day 14. The extract was found to possess hepatoprotective properties as observed in the significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the plasma activities of the liver function enzymes alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase of the animals pre-treated with the plant extract relative to the animals exposed to CCl 4 only (group F). The plant extract also inhibited lipid peroxidation and triglyceride accumulation in the liver of rats administered with the extract, prior to CCl 4 administration. The hepatoprotective properties of Dacryodes edulis may be related to its previously reported high content of antioxidant compounds such as
flavonoids and alkaloids.