AIM

Hepatotoxicity is a significantly increasing health problem worldwide, and the extent of the problem has stimulated interest in the search for hepatotherapeutic agents from plants. This study investigated the hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant activities of the hydroethanolic extract of Mucuna pruriens leaves in antitubercular and alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity assays in rats.

METHOD

In each of the models used, seven groups were allotted. The different groups received normal saline (10 mL·kg(-1), p.o.); hepatotoxicant (isoniazid-rifampicin, INH-RIF, 100 mg·kg(-1), i.p. or 20% ethanol 5 g·kg(-1), p.o.) and normal saline (10 mL·kg(-1), p.o.); hepatotoxicant and extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg·kg(-1) p.o.; hepatotoxicant and silymarin 50 mg·kg(-1) p.o.; and extract at 400 mg·kg(-1) p.o. On the 21(st) day of treatment, blood was collected for assessment of serum biochemical parameters and harvested liver samples were assessed for antioxidants.

RESULTS

The hepatotoxicants significantly (P < 0.05-0.001) increased the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, and malondialdehyde (MDA); and reduced the levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and reduced glutathione GSH compared to control. M. pruriens significantly reversed (P < 0.05-0.001) the elevation in the level of ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin caused by the hepatotoxicants. The extract (200 and 400 mg·kg(-1)) significantly reversed (P < 0.05) the diminution in the level of in vivo antioxidants and increased the level of MDA produced by INH-RIF. M. pruriens (100-400 mg·kg(-1)) elicited significant reduction (P < 0.001) in the level of MDA compared to the alcohol group. Silymarin also reversed the deleterious effects of the hepatotoxicants.

CONCLUSION

The hydroethanolic extract of Mucuna pruriens leaves possesses hepatoprotective activity with enhancement of in vivo antioxidants as a possible mechanism of action.