ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | Jan. 17, 2025
Methanol Leaf Extract of Voacanga Africana Protects Against Diethylnitrosamine and Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities
Raphael S. Olatoye, Oluwatosin A. Adaramoye
Page no 1-17 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36348/sijb.2025.v08i01.001
Background: Hepatotoxicity induced by chemical agents is a common and life-threatening disease that developed from acute or chronic exposure to environmental chemicals. Despite numerous approaches towards the treatment of liver toxicity, no safe and effective therapy exists. This study evaluated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of methanol leaf extract of Voacanga africana (VA) in diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The animals were assigned into seven groups: Control, [DEN+CCL4], [DEN+CCL4] with VA (100, 200, 400 mg/kg), [DEN+CCL4] with Sorafenib (SFB), and SFB alone. Rats received DEN (200 mg/kg) once via i.p. and CCL4 (3 mL/kg) via subcutaneous route once in a week for six weeks. VA was administered orally from the second week until the 15th week. GC-FID analyses of VA revealed active components Voacinol, Voacangine, Amataine, and Ibogaine. [DEN+CCL4] caused a 26% increase in liver organo-somatic weight, which was reduced by 18%, 20%, and 9% with VA doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively. [DEN+CCL4] also significantly increased serum gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine, and aspartate aminotransferases by 55%, 25%, and 17%, and raised α-fetoprotein and total bilirubin levels by 2.0 and 2.5folds, respectively. Hepatic nitric oxide and myeloperoxidase activities were increased by 52% and 123%, respectively in the intoxicated rats. Additionally, malondialdehyde levels increased by 80% with decrease in glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase by 35%, 34%, 25% and 32%, respectively. Immunohistochemistry showed mild APC and strong Bcl-2 expression, while histology revealed severe hepatic necrosis. VA treatment mitigated oxidative stress, inflammation, and restored liver architecture.