ABSTRACT
Hepatotoxicity is a common drug adverse effect and gentamycin has been linked to hepatotoxic adverse reactions. Folklore and ethnobotanical studies indicate Eugenia uniflora L is used in the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments and has exhibited diverse biological activities. We investigated the hepatoprotective potential of this plant in treating gentamycin-induced hepatoxicity and compared the effect with Celebrex a COX2 selective inhibitor. Twenty-eight male adult Wistar rats average of 225g were used for the study and randomised into groups as described: normal control( normal saline), negative control: Gentamycin (40mg/kg. i.p), positive control; Gentamycin (40mg/kg. i.p) +5mg/kg Celebrex. Extract low dose: Gentamycin (40mg/kg i.p)+(50mg/kg) Eugenia uniflora L. leaves, intermediate-dose: Gentamycin (40mg/kg i.p) +100mg/kg Eugenia uniflora L leaves, high dose : Gentamycin (40mg/kg, i.p)+ (200mg/kg, ) of Eugenia uniflora L leaves. Our findings indicate that the body weight was unaffected throughout the experiment, as clearly demonstrated by the lack of significant variability (p<0.05). Hepatotoxicity was confirmed by dose-dependent alteration in Liver marker enzymes, including AST, ALT, and ALP. Eugenia uniflora L leaves were able to ameliorate the levels of these liver enzymes to a normal level. Liver tissue revealed a dose-dependent curative effect with Eugenia uniflora L compared to the COX2 inhibitor (Celebrex) treatment. Consequently, we hereby report, for the first time, that an aqueous extract of Eugenia uniflora L leaves confers hepatoprotection against gentamycin-induced hepatoxicity in Wistar rats.