Hippocratea africana Root Extract and Fractions Ameliorates Paracetamol (PCM)-Induced Oxidative Stress and Liver Injuries in Rats

Aim: The antidotal potential of Hippocratea africana root, which is used locally to cure poisoning, was studied in rats.

Methodology: The hepatoprotective activity of the root extract (200-600 mg/kg), fractions (dichloromethane (DCM) and aqueous, 400 mg/kg) and Silymarin (100 mg/kg), were investigated against paracetamol-induced liver injury in rats. Assay of liver function parameters, markers of antioxidative stress in addition to liver histological analysis were employed to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of root extract and fractions.

Results: Administration of the root extract (200-600 mg/kg) caused significant (P < .05-.001) increases in the blood levels of total protein and decreases in direct and total bilirubin, and the liver biomarker enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP caused by paracetamol administration. Most of the time, the effects were dose-dependent. When compared to the negative control group of animals (organotoxic-treated animals), the histology of the liver sections from animals treated with extract, fractions, and silymarin revealed a decrease in pathological characteristics. These histological observations suggest significant hepatoprotective potentials which were in line with the chemical pathological alterations.

Conclusion: The outcome of the study indicated that root extract and fractions of Hippocratea africana have antioxidative stress potentials and hepatoprotective action against harmful substances, maybe as a result of its phytochemical constituents' activity.