ABSTRACT
Aims: This study evaluated the effect of methanolic leaf extract of Magnifera indica on paracetamol-induced hepatic toxicity in rats. Study Design: Hepatic toxicity in rats was induced by oral administration of paracetamol followed by treatment with the leaf extract and evaluation of liver function parameters, lipid peroxidation activity and hematology. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria/ One year. Methodology: Hepatic injury was achieved by oral administration of 2000mg/kg of paracetamol to rats. Three test doses (100, 200 and 300mg/kg) of Magnifera indica leaf extract (MILE) and a standard reference drug, silymarin (100mg/kg) were administered to the rats orally for ten days through gastric gavage. At the end of the treatment, blood was collected from the rats for liver function tests, hematology, malondiadehyde (MDA) levels and catalase activities. The effect of the extract was compared with silymarin and distilled water controls. Results: Liver function test showed that the extract and reference drug caused various levels of significant (P=0.02 to P=0.001) reduction of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin when compared to negative control. Hematological analysis indicated various levels of significant increase in packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, Red blood cell count and White blood cell count (P=0.05-P<0.001). The MDA was also significantly (P=0.043) reduced by silymarin and MILE at the doses of 200 and 300mg/kg while there was no significant (P=0.24) changes in catalase activities of both treated and control rats. Conclusion: This study showed that Magnifera indica leaf extract ameliorated paracetamol-induced liver toxicity with optimum effect at 300mg/kg.