Neelam Misra, Rukiyat Bishi, Yusuf Sulaiman Banga, Gambo Garba and Hassan Hassan Haladu
College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Hepatitis is one of the major health problems in Nigeria which sometimes may lead to even death. Nigeria has the treasure of medicinal plants, which may be the best source of remedies for the treatment of liver diseases. Thus identification of a potential therapeutic agent for the protection of liver from the hepatotoxins will provide a useful way for the prevention of liver related sickness. Our studies identified a plant with full potential of hepatoprotective activity. The etanolic extract of Annona muricata leaves were screened for its hepatoprotective activity in paracetamol induced liver damage in Albino rat at a dose of 200 mg/kg bw. The ethanolic extract exhibited a significant protective effect by lowering serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, increasing the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase as well as glutathione level. Liv.52 was used as positive control. The effect of the drug was observed by changes in serum marker ALT, AST, ALP, total serum protein and bilirubin levels. The extract did not show any mortality up to a dose of 1000g/kg bw.
Keywords: Annona muricata, hepatoprotective activity, paracetamol.