Hepatprotective Activity of Stem Bark Extracts of <i>Garcinia kola</i> in Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Injury in rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of stem bark of Garcinia kola on acetaminophen-induced liver injury in rats. Twenty four (24) male Wister rats weighting between 116-247g were used for the study and the experimental animals were treated with graded doses of the aqueous (AE) and methanolic (ME) extracts of stem bark Garcinia kola for 7 days before induction of liver damage with 750mg/kg body weight of acetaminophen on the 8th day. At the end of the experimental period, serum samples were collected for biochemical studies and results showed markedly lowered mean values of liver maker enzymes (P<0.001) with mean values of 52.90 + 4.21 IU/I, 12.8+ 3.93 IU/I and 14.00 + 2.21 IU/L for APL, ALT and AST respectively in group A (treated with 25mg/kg AE) when compared to respective mean values of 128.32 + 5.04 IU/L recorded in group E.
This trend was also observed in groups B, C and D treated with 50mg/kg AE, 25mg.kg (ME) and 50mg/kg ME respectively. Also other biochemical parameters including total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) showed mean values that demonstrated evidence of hepatroprotection in groups A-D when compared to group E. In conclusion, the aqueous and methanolic extracts of G. kola have been shown to have hepatoprotective activity and it is recommended that the phytochemical principles responsible for this effect be further elucidated through high resolution techniques.

Key Words: Acetaminophen, ethnomedicine, hepatoprotective, Garcinia kola