Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of <i>Rhaphiostylis beninensis</i> ethanol root extract on carbon tetrachloride (ccl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidative effects of ethanolic root extract of Rhaphiostylis beninensis on liver function, cell integrity and survival of male albino rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Administration of CCl₄ at 1ml/kg body weight of rat for four (4) days induced hepatotoxicity, cellular attack and damage, while R. beninensis ethanolic root extract was administered (150 and 300 mg/kg) for 4 days. CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity significantly increased (p<0.05) alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin (TB) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly decreased albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. R. beninensis-treated groups had significantly decreased (p<0.05) ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, AST, TB and MDA levels, and significantly increased (p<0.05) ALB, TP, GPx, SOD and CAT levels. Histologically, CCl₄ caused necrosis, inflammation, severe dilatation, congestion of blood vessels, vacuolation and hepatocellular degeneration, whereas R. beninensis administration on CCl₄ exposed rats showed regions of recovery and significant hepatoprotection against CCl₄-induced hepatic attack and damage as well as absence of vacuolation. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that R. beninensis root extract offered hepatoprotection against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity by improving/enhancing liver function and cellular integrity as well as the antioxidative status of the liver.

Keywords: Carbon tetrachloride, Ethanol, Antioxidant, Oxidative stress, Rhaphiostylis beninensis root