Abstract
Substances that have a hepato-protective activity are those that can inhibit oxidation to protect the cells of the body from the damaging effects of oxidation. It can bind to free oxygen radicals preventing these radicals from damaging healthy cells. The present study was planned to investigate the effects of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Kigelia africana fruits as hepato protective agent for the liver damage on male Wistar rats. Animals were grouped randomly to seven groups, Group 1 (normal control), Group 2 received CCl4 on 3 rd day. Silymarin were given to rats in group 3 for 5 days and CCl4 induction on 3 rd day. Groups 4, 5 and 6 received methanol extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day) respectively and group 7 received aqueous extract (400 mg/kg/day) for 5 days and CCl 4 induction on 3 rd day. The control had the higher (p<0.05) body weight gain than all groups (CCl4 control, methanol and aqueous extracts) except silymarin control showed no significant change. The study revealed that, administration of the two extracts (aqueous and methanol) of the plant seeds has a toxic effects which resulted in alterations in Hb, WBCs MCH, MCHC and granulocytes and other hematological parameters, also an alterations in Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activities and other serological parameters. There were alterations in liver and kidney. No significant lesions were observed in the heart or spleen of the test rats. This study showed that fruits of the plant given to the experimental rats at doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day orally were toxic but not fatal; the toxicity was characterized by lower body weight gain, alteration in biochemical, hematological and pathological parameters.
Highlights
Medicinal agents came mainly from nature which has been a source of them for thousands of years and an impressive number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources (Cragg and Newman, 2001)
The plant K. africana have medicinal properties in which make it used in treatment of many diseases and most commonly used by traditional healers to treat wide range of skin ailments like, fungal infections, boils, psoriasis and eczema
Extract of B. aegyptiaca was observed to be more toxic than that of K. africana; this study represents evidence to the slight toxicity that rose in the result of our study
Summary
Medicinal agents came mainly from nature which has been a source of them for thousands of years and an impressive number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources (Cragg and Newman, 2001). In counterpart the liver is a glandular organ which is the largest one in the body, it acts like a factory for production of substances that break down fats, produce urea, convert glucose to glycogen, make certain amino acids and many other functions (Moss, 2000). The hepatic protective substance is a substance that inhibits oxidation to protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation. It can bind to free oxygen radicals preventing these radicals from damaging healthy cells (Moss, 2000). Kigelia africana (Family: Bignoniaceous), is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceous. The genus comprises only one species, K. africana (Roodt, 1992).
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