Hepatoprotective Effect of the Aqueous Root-Bark Extract of Ficus sycomorus (Linn) on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Research Article
Hepatoprotective Effect of the Aqueous Root-Bark Extract of Ficus sycomorus (Linn) on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Journal of Biological Sciences, 2007, 7(2), 276-281.

Abstract

The aqueous root-bark extract of Ficus sycomorus (Linn) was tested for its chemical constituents, acute toxicity and hepatoprotective effect against Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. A total of 78 adult albino rats weighing between 150-320 g were used. The animals were each weighed at the start of the experiment and divided into two segments consisting of 42 rats for the acute toxicity and 36 rats for the hepatoprotective study segments, respectively. In the acute toxicity study the aqueous extract of the root-bark of Ficus sycomorus was administered intraperitoneally (ip) in a dose range of 0.2-12 g kg^-1 and the rats were observed for the physical signs of toxicity for 24 h. The hepatoprotective segment involved dosing the negative control rats intraperitonealy with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) 3 mL kg^-1 that was dissolved in corn oil to induce liver damage while the treatments groups were pretreated with 640 mg kg^-1 of the extract orally an hour before CCl₄ (3 mL kg^-1) was administered to observe if the extract has any hepatoprotective effect against CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity At the end of each treatment period, the animals were weighed and blood was obtained from animals administered CCl₄ and pre-treated with 640 mg kg^-1 of the extract for biochemical analysis with the liver extracted, weighed and processed for histological assessment. Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and reducing sugar and LD₅₀ was calculated as 3.20�0.6031 g kg^-1. Pre-treatment of the rats with the extract was able to reduce though not significantly, changes in the biochemical parameters (decrease in albumin but increase in Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alanine-Transaminase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin) and preserved the liver parenchymal architecture against CCl₄ induced degenerative changes, fibroplasia and cirrhosis. The results of this study showed that the plant extract had hepatoprotective effect on the parenchymal architecture of the liver against CCL₄ induced hepatotoxicity in rats. But further studies to observe its hepatocurative potentials would be useful and is recommended.