Ameliorating effect and haematological activities of methanolic leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium in acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity in wistar albino rats

Abstract

This study examined the ameliorating effect and Haematological activities of methanolic leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium in acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity in wistar albino rats. The serum liver enzymes ALT, AST and ALP decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the test animals treated with 600mg/kg of the leaf extract. ALT decreased from 35.38 ± 1.35 U/L to 28.34 ± 1.74 U/L, while AST and ALP decreased from 45.98 ± 3.76 U/L to 35.74 ± 1.50 U/L and 84.32 ± 2.26 U/L to 65.92 ± 3.90 U/L respectively. Protein concentration increased significantly (p<0.05) in the test animals treated with 600mg/kg of the leaf extract. Protein increased from 3.68 ± 0.24 g/dl to 8.33 ± 0.26 g/dl. The effect of the G. latifolium leaf extract seems to be dose dependent on the liver enzymes and protein concentration measured. The haematological parameters Hb, PCV and WBC increased significantly (p<0.05) in the test animals treated with 600mg/kg of the leaf extract. Hb increased from 8.93 ± 0.21 g/dl to 10.25 ± 0.47 g/dl, while PCV and WBC increased from 27.73 ± 0.42 % to 32.39 ± 0.52 % and 5.81 ± 0.13 (×103/µl) to 7.38 ± 0.38 (×103/µl) respectively. The results showed that acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity in the wistar albino rats as observed in the negative control was reversed with the administration of the leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium (in groups 3, 4 and 5) in the test animals. These results indicate that the leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium has ameliorating effect and Haematological properties and can be used against some hepatic inflammations in human health and could have significant effect on human population.