Evaluation of Protective Activity of Ethanolic Stem Bark Extract of <i>Lantana Camara</i> on Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Acute Hepatic Injury in Wistar Rats

Abstract

In this study, the protective effects of 50 – 300 mg/kg/oral of the ethanolic extract of Lantana Camara stem bark were investigated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in non-hepatectomized Wistar rats. Results showed Lantana camara extract to significantly (p<0.05) attenuate induction of CCl4 hepatotoxicity (characterized by the significant elevation in the serum levels of alimne aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST) in rats pretreated with the extract in dose related fashion. Also, the extract significantly (p<0.05) lowered the serum triglycerides and cholesterol in pretreated rats while elevating circulating HDL-c and total bilirubin levels in dose unrelated pattern. Thus, the overall results suggest that the extract could be mediating its hepatoprotective effect by inhibiting lipoperoxidation or scavenging liberated free radicals.

Keywords: Stem bark ethanolic extract, Lantana Camara, CCl4 hepatotoxicity, Hepatoprotective activity, Wistar rats

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 9-13