Hepatoprotective Efficacy of Residual Aqueous Fraction of Bombax costatum Pellegr. Et Vuillet (Bombacacae) Stem Bark Against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Acute Liver Toxicity in Mice

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatic disease still remains a major public health problem due to vulnerability of the liver to a variety of metabolic, circulatory, neoplastic, xenobiotic and microbial insults. Liver injury is accompanied with derangement of vital body functions, hence the need to search for efficacious hepatoprotective agents with minimal side effect. This study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective efficacy of aqueous fraction of B. costatum stem bark (AFB) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced acute liver toxicity in mice.

Methods: Swiss albino mice were divided in to groups I-VI with each group containing 6 mice. Group I and II served as normal and toxic control groups respectively. Group III mice were pre-treated with silymarin (100 mg/kg) daily for 7 days. Mice in groups IV-VI were pre-treated with 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg of AFB daily for 7 days respectively. Acute hepatotoxicity was induced via intraperitoneal administration of 1 ml/kg of CCl₄ to mice in groups II-VI on the 8^th day of the study. Effect of treatments on serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) as well as liver architecture were evaluated.

Results: Pre-treatment of the mice with AFB at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) reduced CCl₄ mediated increase in ALT, AST, ALP and TB levels. These findings were supported by preservation of liver architecture against CCl₄ -induced acute liver toxicity in the silymarin and AFB treated groups.
Conclusion: The results suggest that AFB possesses hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄ induced acute liver toxicity in mice.