Liver protective activity of the methanol extract of Crinum jagus bulb against acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage in wistar rats

摘要

Hepatotoxins constitute a serious health concern in both rural and urban population globally. Despite advances in medical research, the discovery of an ideal hepatoprotective agent remains a challenge. The present research sought to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the crude methanol extract of Crinum jagus bulb as a step towards further detailed study to isolate the bioactive principles. Wistar rats were pre-challenged individually with a high dose of acetaminophen (paracetamol, 2000 mg kg ~(-1)) per os to induce hepatic damage prior to treatment. The control group was given distilled water (10 mL kg ~(-1), p.o.) while one out of the other experimental rat groups was either treated with silymarin (50 mg kg -1, p.o.) or with a dose of C. jagus bulb extract (75, 150 and 300 mg kg ~(-1)). Pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time, the mean relative liver weight of individual rats, biochemical assay and histopathological lesions in the liver of the separate rat groups were assessed and compared to determine the extent of hepatic damage. The prolonged paracetamol-induced pentobarbitone sleeping time in untreated, control rats (145.2±1.4 min) was most remarkably reduced to 122.5±2.1 and 109.5±0.4 min in rats which were treated orally with 150 and 300 mg kg ~(-1) of the extract respectively. The acetaminophen-mediated decrease in the mean relative liver weight of intoxicated rats was relatively reversed with 150 and 300 mg kg ~(-1) of the extract. C. jag us bulb extract also demonstrated significant (p<0.05) potency at 150 and 300 mg kg ~(-1) in reducing acetaminophen-induced increase in the rat serum transaminases (AST, ALT and ALP) and total bilirubin but with elevation in total serum protein values. Histopathology revealed that 2000 mg kg ~(-1) of paracetamol induced severe necrosis of hepatocytes in untreated control rats. Treatment of the acetaminophen-challenged rats with silymarin (50 mg kg ~(-1), p.o.) and C, jagus bulb extract (150 and 300 mg kg ~(-1), p.o.) gave a better protection with regeneration of hepatocytes relative to the untreated control. Crinum jagus bulb extract seemed to have multiplicity of effects in regenerating parenchymal cells, hepatic microsomal enzymes with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The bulb of C. jagus could be a potential source of potent hepatoprotective agents.