ABSTRACT
Carbon tetrachloride and its toxic metabolites consistently produce liver injury in many species including man. The hepatoprotective potential of Chromolaena odorata Linn. (C. odorata) was evaluated in male rabbits against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. Carbon tetrachloride intoxicated control (CCl4) and ethanol extract of C. odoratatreated rabbits (ETECO TEST) received a single dose of CCl4 (0.2 ml/kg bw in liquid paraffin 1:1). Pre-treated rabbits received ethanol extract of C. odorata at 400 mg/kg/day in two divided doses of 200 mg/kg in morning and at night for 6 days prior to CCl4 administration. Sylimarin control received 50 mg/kg bw as a replacement for ETECO prior to CCl4 intoxication. Normal animals received only extract in the above stated dose and served as extract controls (ETECO CTRL). Pre-treatment with C. odorata significantly (p<0.05) prevented the elevation of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanineaminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma glutamyl transferase ( ץ-GT), total bilirubin and malondialdehyde (MDA) resulting from carbon tetrachloride intoxication. C. odorata extract also significantly (p<0.05) prevented a decrease in serum total protein, albumin, and glutathione (GSH) concentrations. The extract also significantly (p<0.05) prevented a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activities. The presence of secondary plant metabolites like alkaloids, saponins,phenolic compouds, flavonoids and tannins found in C. odorata extract could be responsible for its hepatoprotective action.