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Akindele AJ, Ezenwanebe KO, Anunobi CC, Adeyemi OO: Hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant effects of Byrsocarpus coccineus Schum. and Thonn. (Connaraceae). Liver Int. 2007 Apr;27(3):393-9.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: The leaf decoction of Byrsocarpus coccineus (Connaraceae) is drunk for the treatment of jaundice in West African traditional medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant effects of B. coccineus in carbon tetrachloride (CCl (4))-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Group allotment in this study included vehicle, CCl (4), B. coccineus 1000mg/kg alone, B. coccineus 200, 400, and 1000mg/kg+CCl (4) and Livolin (R) 20mg/kg+CCl (4,) and treatment was carried out accordingly. On the 7 (th) day, rats were sacrificed and blood was withdrawn by cardiac puncture. The levels and activities of serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes were then assayed using standard procedures. RESULTS: CCl (4) significantly (P <0.05) increased the levels of ALT and AST and reduced total protein. In CCl (4) treated animals, B. coccineus (200, 400, and 1000mg/kg) dose-dependently and significantly decreased ALT, AST and ALP levels with peak effect produced at the highest dose. Conversely, B. coccineus produced significant increases in albumin and total protein levels. The standard drug produced significant effects in respect of ALT ( downward arrow), albumin ( upward arrow), and total protein ( upward arrow). CCl (4) also produced significant (P <0.05) reductions in the activity of catalase, SOD, peroxidase and GSH, and conversely increased MDA level. B. coccineus produced significant and dose-dependent reversal of CCl (4)-diminished activity of the antioxidant enzymes and reduced CCl (4)-elevated level of MDA. The standard drug also significantly increased CCl (4)-diminished antioxidant enzymes activity and reduced CCl (4)-elevated MDA level. In general, the effects of the standard drug were comparable and not significantly different from those of B. coccineus. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that the aqueous leaf extract of B. coccineus possesses hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant effects. This finding justifies the use of this preparation in West African traditional medicine for the treatment of liver disease. |
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