Hepatoprotective effect of hydromethanolic leaf extract of Musanga cecropioides (Urticaceae) on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury and oxidative stress

摘要

Objective Natural antioxidant products are gaining popularity as treatments for various pathological liver injuries. Musanga cecropioides (Urticaceae) leaf extract is used in ethnomedicine for the management of jaundice and other hepatic ailments in Ibibio, Nigeria. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of M.?cecropioides hydromethanolic leaf (MCHL) extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Methods Liver damage was induced by administering CCl 4 dissolved in liquid paraffin (2?mL/kg bw 1:1 intraperitoneally) after pretreatment with MCHL extract for 7 days. Thereafter, acute hepatotoxicity was evaluated in 36 Wistar rats divided into six groups (A–F) of six animals each. Group A served as the negative control; B received CCl 4 1?mL/kg only; C–E received 70.7, 141.4, and 282.8?mg/kg MCHL extract, respectively; and F received silymarin 100?mg/kg daily for 7 days by oral gavage. After 48?h, the rats were sacrificed, and samples obtained from them were assayed for histological and biochemical biomarkers of hepatotoxicity. Results The MCHL extracts significantly ( p ?