Evaluation of the Antioxidant Effects of Ziziphus Mauritiana Lam. Leaf Extracts against Chronic Ethanol-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rat Liver

Chronic alcohol ingestion is known to increase the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS); thereby leading to liver damage. Antioxidant enzymes act individually or in combination to reduce or counter the effect of these ROS. Chronic administration of alcohol at (40v/v; 1ml/100g); for 6 weeks showed a significant (p0.05) elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT); aspartate aminotransferase (AST); alkaline phosphatase (ALP); and total bilirubin (TB). There was also a significant (p0.05) decreased levels of catalase; glutathione peroxidase; glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase compared to control rats. Pretreatment of rats with 200; 400 mg/kg body weight of aqueous leaf extract of Ziziphus mauritiana or 100 mg/kg silymarin resulted in a significant (p0.05) decreased levels of ALT; AST; ALP; and TB with levels of catalase; glutathione peroxidase; glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase showing a significant (p0.05) increase compared to group administered alcohol only. Histopathology of rat liver administered with alcohol only resulted in severe necrosis; mononuclear cell aggregation and fatty degeneration in the central and mid zonal areas which was a characteristic of a damaged liver. Pre-treatment with the aqueous extract of Ziziphus mauritiana or silymarin reduced the morphological changes that are associated with chronic alcohol administration. The presence of tannins; saponins and phenolic compounds observed in the plant extract could be responsible for the observed effects of decreasing the levels of injured tissue marker and lipid peroxidation

Evaluation of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract on Alcohol-induced Hepatotoxicity

A study on the protective effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract in acute alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was evaluated. Rats fed alcohol only produced significant increase in the levels of enzyme markers of tissues damage (ALT; AST and ALP); lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and decreased serum vitamin C levels compared to normal control rats. Pretreatment with 100 and 200mg/kg body weight of extract significantly decreased the levels of enzyme markers; lipid peroxidation and markedly increased serum vitamin C level in a dose-dependent manner. Post-treatment with 200mg/kg body weight of extract significantly enhanced the recovery of animals from hepatic damage compared to untreated control. Lipid peroxidation and depletion of vitamin C due to oxidative stress could be the possible mechanisms of alcohol induced toxicity and the protective effect of the extract could be as a result of its ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation and prevent the depletion of vitamins C