ABSTRACT
Vernonia amygdalina is a strong natural antioxidant that possessed various medicinal properties. In this study, the spray-dried water extract of V. amygdalina was evaluated for its in vitro antioxidant capacity and in vivo hepatoprotective effect against alcoholic-mediated liver damage. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of spray-dried V. amygdalina water extract were determined. Liver enzyme profiles, liver antioxidant level and nitric oxide level were evaluated in alcohol-induced liver injured mice or co-supplement with spray-dried V. amydalina. Water extract of spraydried V. amygalina that contained phenolic content of 24.8 +/- 1.5 mg/g gallic acid equivalent and total flavonoid content of 25.7 +/- 1.3 mg/g catechin equivalent was able to inhibit 50% of xanthine and tyrosinase oxidation at 170 micro g/mL and 2 mg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, extracts at both 10 and 50 mg/kg body weight were able to reduce the levels of Alanine transaminase [ALT], Alkaline phosphatase [ALP], Aspartate transaminase [AST], triglyceride and total bilirubin content inthe alcohol-mediated liver injury in mice. Furthermore, it also helped to increase levels of Superoxide dismutase [SOD], Ferric reducing ability of plasma [FRAP] and reduce the levels of Nitric oxide [NO] and Malondialdehyde [MDA] in the liver of the treated mice. These results suggested that water extract of spray-dried V. amygdalina exhibited liver protective effect, which could be contributed by its antioxidant properties