HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT AND FRACTIONS OF AFRICAN MISTLETOE TAPINANTHUS BANGWENSIS (ENGL. & K. KRAUSE) FROM NIGERIA

Methanolic extract and fractions, ethylacetate (EtF) and butanol (BuF) of leaves of African mistletoe (Tapinanthus bangwensis, Engl. & K. Krause) were evaluated for their hepatoprotective potential using CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. The activities of the marker enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin were highest in rats treated with CCl4 alone. Oral administration at a fixed dose of 400 mg/kg body weight (BW) of the extract and fractions of T. bangwensis for seven days significantly (p <= 0.05) decreased the activity of marker enzymes and bilirubin. Total protein concentration increased significantly (p <= 0.05). These extracts also decreased the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) which indicated a reduction in lipid peroxidation. Histopathological examination of hepatocytes of rats administered methanolic extract (MeE) and fractions (EtF and BuF) showed normal architecture whereas rats treated with CCl4 alone was characterized by necrosis of the liver. Generally, among the three extracts, the BuF and EtF showed more hepatoprotective effect. The crude methanolic extract did not show any mortality up to a dose of 2000 g/kg BW. These findings suggest that T. bangwensis possesses strong antioxidant properties and hepatoprotective potentials against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.