Effect of aqueous extract of African mistletoe (<i>Tapinanthus bangwesis</i>) on some serum enzymes of rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage

Abstract

The in vivo effects of aqueous extract of African mistletoe (Tapinanthus bangwesis) on the serum levels of aspartate and alanine amino transferases (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of Wistar albino rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage were investigated. The extract was orally administered at 12.5, 25.0 and 37.5 mg/kg body weight 24 hours and every subsequent 48 hours following carbon tetrachloride
(CCl4) administration with vegetable oil carrier (1:1) at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg body wt. This study was for three weeks. The results indicated that the serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP reduced significantly (p<0.05) at the 14-day period in rats given the varying doses of the extract when compared to the levels obtained for CCl4- treated rats. While the serum levels of these enzyme activities also decreased for CCl4-control rats during the period of study, the reductions were more with rats given the aqueous extracts after CCl4 administration, almost approaching the control levels. However, the effects were not dose-dependent. The results of histopathology of the liver samples were consistent to some extent with the enzyme levels obtained. The liver architecture following CCl4 administration improved at 12.5 mg/kg body weight of extract through the period investigated. Similar patterns were seen at 25.0 and 37.5 mg/kg body weight of the extract. The findings in this study
suggest that the aqueous extract of African mistletoe (T. bangwesis) may have beneficial actions to challenged liver by assisting with repair of hepatic damage.

Keywords: aqueous extracts, hepatic damage, histopathology, enzyme ctivity

International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences Vol. 2 (4) 2008: pp. 448-455