Abstract
The quest for alternate medicine in preventing and combating hepatotoxicity led to the screening of aqueous and ethanol extracts of dried leaves of Vernonia amygdalina Delile (bitter leaf) and Ocimum canum Linn (curry leaf) for phytochemicals and in vitro antioxidant properties. Some rats were pretreated with the extracts and later administered with 2g/kg of body weight single dose of acetaminophen and the hepatoprotective effect of the extracts was determined by assessing the liver function, antioxidant enzyme activities and histological status of their livers, using standard biochemical methods.The extracts were rich in bioactive compounds and showed concentration-dependent variation in in vitro free radical (DPPH) scavenging activity. A 400mg/kg of body weight per day pretreatment (for seven days) with the extracts gave hepatoprotection to the rats. This was evidenced in the reduction of the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by 43% in aqueous extract of O. canum to 92% in V. amygdalina and marked increase of the serum albumin concentration. Aqueous leaf extract of V. amygdalina caused the highest increase in GPx activity while ethanol leaf extract of O. canum gave the highest (350%) increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, compared to the negative control. Also the lobular architecture of the hepatocytes was preserved. V. amygdalina and O. canum have important role in medicine as they contain substances that scavenge free radicals, stimulate activities of antioxidant enzymes and preserve the liver architecture in occasion of acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity. Key words: Vernonia amygdalina, Ocimum canum, hepatoprotection, oxidative stress, free radical-scavenging, hepatocytes.  
Highlights
Acetaminophen (APAP) is an analgesic and antipyretic substance used in the production of the drug paracetamol
Based on the concentrations used in the study, O. canumhad its highest in vitro antioxidant activity at 0.06mg/ 100ml, V. amygdalina had its highest activity at 0.5 mg/ 100ml (Figure 1)
Results from the present study provides evidence of the induction of oxidative stress nine hours (9 h), following 2g/kg of body weight acetaminophen (APAP), administration
Summary
Acetaminophen (APAP) is an analgesic and antipyretic substance used in the production of the drug paracetamol. O. canum is grown for its medicinal and culinary value and it is highly useful in treating various types of diseases and in lowering blood glucose levels, especially in type 2 diabetes and treat cords (Kokwaro et al, 2009) Huge quantities of these plants O. canum Linn (curry leaf) and V. amygdalina Delile (bitter leaf) are consumed all over Nigeria for flavouring and spicing of various types of food and as medicine for different ailments. It is expedient to establish their hepatoprotective potentials of aqueous and the ethanol leaf extracts of these plants against injuries that may be caused by xenobiotics especially the commonly abused drug, paracetamol This will clarify if their use can aid specific pathways, which work to overcome the adverse effects of damages caused by these xenobiotics, to keep pace with such deleterious effects
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
