Antioxidant and Hepato-renal Protective Activity of Anogeissus leiocarpus Bark against CCl4–induced Hepatorenal toxicity in Rats

Abstract

Sahab (Anogeissus leiocarpus) has been used as traditional remedy in the Sudan for the treatment of a variety of diseases including liver disorders. Antioxidant and hepatorenal protective effects of A. leiocarpus bark ethanolic extract were investigated in rats against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatorenal injury. Chemical constituents of the plant were also conducted. In vitro antioxidant properties of A. liocarpus bark was explored using DPPH radical scavenging and iron chelating assays. Rats were injected CCl4 at a dose of 1.25ml/kg as single dose at 12 hour (h) after administration of the plant extract three times at 0h, 12h and 24h. Samples were taken after 36h for biochemical, haematological and histopatiological investigations. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (Tbil), direct bilirubin (Dbil), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), globulin (Glo), urea and creatinine were measured as biomarkers of liver and renal damage. The tissues of liver and kidney were also isolated carefully for histopathology. Phytochemical screening of A. leiocarpus bark ethanolic extract indicated the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, sterols, triterpenoids and cumarins. Antioxidant activity and iron chelating antioxidant assay exhibited moderate activity (43%±0.01) using DPPH radical scavenging assay compared to standard antioxidant propyl gallate (72%±0.03). However the iron chelating antioxidant assay showed low antioxidant activity against ferrous iron and ferrozine complex (23%±0.034) compared to standard antioxidant compound EDETA (98%±0.01). Oral administration of the ethanolic extract of the plant at a dose of 200 mg/kg displayed a significant (P < 0.05) hepatorenal protective effect against CCl4 by lowering liver biomarkers (AST, ALT, ALP), kidney biomarkers levels (urea, creatinine) as well as haematological parameters when compared with standard drug silymarin. Histopathological investigation of liver and kidney tissues verified the protection effect of the plant extract.