Attenuation of Carbon Tetrachloride – Induced Hepatoxicity by Dacryodes edulis Seeds Ethanolic Extract in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Dacryodes edulis (African pear) seed has a long history of use in ethnomedicine. However, there is a paucity of information on its ameliorative potential on hepatic damage. In the present study, the potentials of D. edulis ethanolic seed extract (DET) in attenuating carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar rats was assessed. Ninety male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 10) designated: control, CCl4, and DET, respectively. Animals in the control group were administered 2 mL/kg body weight corn oil, while those assigned to CCl4 and DET groups were administered i.p. 30% CCl4 in corn oil (1:1 v/v) at 2 mL/kg. Treatment was administered once every 24 h consecutively for 72 h. Thereafter, control and CCl4 groups were treated once daily with 1 mL distilled water by gavage, while DET rats were treated once daily with 1500 mg/kg DET by gavage. At every 7 days interval and for 28 consecutive days, animals were starved overnight, weighed, and six rats from each group were sacrificed under anesthesia to collect blood and liver samples. After 28 days, remarkable improvements in feed intake, body weight, serum levels of hepatic function indicators, and hepatic histology were observed in DET rats compared to CCl4 rats. These results suggest a possible ameliorative potential of D. edulis ethanolic seed extract against CCl4-induced hepatic injury.