Farida T., Salawu O.A., Tijani A.Y., Ejiofor J.I.
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu, Abuja, Nigeria
Farida, T., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Salawu, O.A., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu, Abuja, Nigeria; Tijani, A.Y., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu, Abuja, Nigeria; Ejiofor, J.I., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ipomoeaasarifolia (Desr.) Roem. and Schult. is used traditionally in some parts of Africa for the treatment of a variety of diseases. This study attempts to validate its hepatoprotective activity by evaluating the prophylactic and curative properties of the methanolic extract of Ipomoea asarifolia (IA) leaves. Materials and Methods: Liver damage was induced by administering 0.5 ml/kg of an equal mixture of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in olive oil intraperitoneally on alternate days, for 5 days and the plant extract was given orally daily, for 7 days at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. Results: Pre-treatment with the extract significantly (P<0.05) decreased CCl4-induced elevation in serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, bilirubin and cholesterol, better than the standard drug silymarin at 100 mg/kg. In the curative study, IA significantly (P<0.05) reversed CCl 4-induced liver damage, comparable to silymarin. Hepatoprotective potential was further supported by decrease in pentobarbitone sleeping time and improved hepatic tissue histopathology. Conclusion: These results indicate that I. asarifolia leaves have potent hepatoprotective activity against CCl 4-induced hepatic damage in rats. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; bilirubin; cholesterol; Ipomoea asarifolia extract; liver protective agent; pentobarbital; plant extract; silymarin; triacylglycerol; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; article; controlled study; female; histopathology; Ipomoea; Ipomoea asarifolia; LD 50; liver protection; liver toxicity; male; nonhuman; plant leaf; rat; sleep time; Alanine Transaminase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Bilirubin; Carbon Tetrachloride; Cholesterol; Drug-Induced Liver Injury; Female; Ipomoea; Male; Organ Size; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Protective Agents; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Triglycerides; Convolvulaceae; Ipomoea asarifolia; Rattus
