Theresa Yebo Gara, Danladi Amodu Ameh, Kola Mattew Anigo and Augustine Innalegwu Daniel

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2021.40

pp. 312 - 317

Abstract

Hepatic damage is a serious health challenge that alters normal metabolic processes in the body. Total flavonoid, phenolic
content and lethal dose (LD₅₀) of n-butanol fraction of Detarium microcarpum stem bark were evaluated using standard procedures.
The effect of n-butanol fraction of Detarium microcarpum stem bark on the relative liver weight, some liver functions (Alanine
aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin (Bil)) and oxidative stress
(malondialdehyde MDA, superoxide dismutase SOD, and catalase CAT) parameters in carbon-tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatic
injury in Wistar rats were investigated. Experimental animals were divided into 6 groups, to induce hepatic injury. CCl₄ in olive
oil (1:1) was introduced by intraperitoneal injection once a week for 4 weeks and graded doses (100, 150 and 200) mg/ml of nbutanol fraction of Detarium microcarpum stem bark were orally administered, daily for 28 days. The quantity of total flavonoids
and phenols in n-butanol fraction of Detarium microcarpum stem bark were 234.42 ± 0.71 and 2.97 ± 0.31 (mg/g) respectively.
The LD₅₀ of n-butanol fraction of Detarium microcarpum stem bark was >5000 mg/kg body weight of rats. The relative liver
weight of all the treated groups decreased significantly (p<0.05) compared to the CCl4 only treatment (negative control). ALT,
AST, ALP, Bil and MDA significantly decreased while SOD and CAT increased significantly compared with the negative control.
These results suggest that Detarium microcarpum stem bark contains phytochemicals with antioxidant properties and holds promise
in ameliorating liver injuries.

Keywords

• Detarium microcarpum
• hepatotoxicity
• carbon-tetrachloride
• liver function
• oxidative stress