Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of hydromethanolic extract of Daniella oliveri leaves in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

BACKGROUND

Daniella oliveri is a deciduous plant that is commonly found in savanna and open grassland. Various parts of the plant is used by herbalist in the management of different ailments. The present study aims at investigating the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract of D. oliveri leaves.

METHODS

The hepatoprotective activity was investigated using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. The antioxidant activity was determined using both in vitro (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine photometric assay) and in vivo (malondialdehyde and catalase level assay) models.

RESULTS

The pretreatment with extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and silymarin (100 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent increase in hepatoprotective activity when compared with the negative control group. The extract (25-400 μg/mL concentration) produced a concentration-dependent increase in antioxidant activity in 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) photometric assay. The IC50 of the extract in DPPH photometric assay was 400 μg/mL concentrations. The extract and silymarin showed a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent increase in catalase level in treated rats when compared with the negative control group. Also, the extract and silymarin produced a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent decrease in malondialdehyde level in treated rats when compared with the negative control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study suggest that D. oliveri leaves has a potent hepatoprotective activity that may be linked to its antioxidant activities and validates its use in the traditional management of liver disorders.