Topical Application of Citral or Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil Extracts Improved Liver and Antioxidant Enzymes in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background: It has been published by several authors that Cymbopogon citratus essential oil (CCEO) exhibits wide range of biological activities, but there are few reports on its antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. Objective: This study investigated the effect of the topical application of citral and CCEO on liver and antioxidant enzymes in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Forty-two (42) Wistar rats of both sexes weighing from 160 g to 180 g were used in the study. Their right hind limb fur was shaved with new and sterilized razor blades under light anaesthesia (with a mixture of urethane and chloralose, 5 mL/kg) for topical application of citral and CCEO for two months. 3 mL blood samples were obtained through the cannulated right femoral arteries into plain bottles and serum samples were collected on ice centrifuge for measurements of serum, liver and antioxidant enzymes. Organs (liver, kidney and heart) were harvested and kept in ice cold normal saline in organ bottles for measurement of tissue antioxidant indices. Results: After topical application of citral oil, there were significantly low levels of serum ALT, AST, ALP, SOD and catalase (also in liver homogenate). There was significantly high level of SOD in the kidney homogenate, GSH in the serum, liver and kidney homogenates and catalase in the kidney and heart homogenates, compensatory for the high MDA levels. On the other hand, after topical application of CCEO, there were low serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP and GSH in the heart homogenate, and high SOD and catalase in the kidney homogenate. The low levels of ALT, AST and ALP, and the high levels of SOD, GSH and catalase in the serum homogenates were proportional to the citral and CCEO concentrations and indicators of hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of citral and CCEO in the Wistar rats. Conclusion: The findings in this study suggest that topical application of citral oil or Cymbopogon citratus essential oil (CCEO) improved liver function and antioxidant enzymes level and activities in Wistar rats. Hence, citral or CCEO has hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties in Wistar rats of both sexes.