Hepatoprotective Potentials of Ethanolic Leaf-Extract of Cajanus cajan (linn) in Ethanol-evoked Oxidative Stress in Albino Rats

Aims: The hepatoprotective potentials of ethanolic leaf-extract of Cajanus cajan (linn) in ethanol-evoked oxidative stress was examined by checking the activities of liver function parameters such as Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) in rats.

Study Design: Experimental Design.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Biochemistry laboratory and animal house of Ebonyi state University, Abakaliki Nigeria from May 2020 to December 2020.

Methodology: 36 albino rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups of 6 rats per group. Rats in Group A received 0.9% of NaCl solution only and served as normal control. Rats in group B received 5mg/kg of Silymarin and three hours later, was given 3.7g/kg of absolute ethanol, one time daily for two weeks and they served as standard control; rats in group C received 3.7g/kg of absolute ethanol only and served as positive control. Rats in groups D, E and F (test groups) received 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg body weights of the leaf-extract respectively and three hours later, all the rats in the test groups were given 3.7g/kg body weight of absolute ethanol, one time per day for two weeks. All the administrations were done through oral route. Collection of blood was done by puncturing the femoral veins of the rats in each group. Liver marker enzymes were all determined using standard procedures.

Results: ALT, AST and ALP activities increased significantly (P<0.05) in positive control group relative to the levels observed in other control groups. However, administration of leaf-extract to the test groups revealed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the activities of these enzymes to levels similar to what was observed in the groups that were administered 0.9% of NaCl solution and silymarin.

Conclusion: It is therefore concluded that ethanol leaf-extracts of Cajanus cajan contains important antioxidants which could be hepatoprotective to albino rats.