Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effects of Ethanolic Extracts of Faidherbia albida Fruits and Stem Bark Against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Liver Damage in Rats

Abstract

Haraz tree (Faidherbia albida) is used in traditional medicine to treat some disorders such as inflammation, skin infections and kidney problems. In this study the ethanolic extracts F. albida fruits and stem bark were evaluated for their antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. Ethanolic extracts were prepared and the phytoconstituents of the fruits and stem bark extracts were investigated. The antioxidant activities of both extracts were measured using 1,1- diphenyl-2- picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity was used to evaluate the activities of extracts. Thirty five albino rats were divided randomly into seven groups of five rats each; control group, CCl4 intoxicated group, hepatoprotective standard drug, F. albida low and high doses of fruit extracts groups. F. albida stem bark low and high doses of the extract. F. albida fruits and stem bark extracts were administered orally at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w daily for 5 days. The hepatotoxicity was induced by injection of CCl4 in olive oil (1:1) at a dose of 0.2 ml/kg b.w interaperitoneally in the 2nd and 3rd day of extracts adminstration. Liver function was tested by measuring serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total proteins were estimated. Flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids, saponins, coumarins, alkaloids and sterols were detected in fruit ethanolic extract, whereas, the result of stem bark revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids only. F. albida fruits extract exhibited high antioxidant activity against DPPH assay compared to stem bark extract. Fruit and stem bark extracts treated groups showed significantly lower (P˂ 0.05) AST, ALT and ALP values than the intoxicated group, suggesting the protection of hepatic cells against CCl4 induced liver damage. The results were also compared with the hepatoprotective effect of the standard drug Silymarin. Total protein was not affected (P˃ 0.05) by administration of Silymarin and plant extracts, the results were comparable to intoxicated group. The results concluded that the ethanolic extracts of F. albida fruits and stem bark seems to possess hepatoprotective activity in rats. This effect may be due to antioxidant activity or the phytoconstituents of the plant