Modulatory Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Annona muricata Pre-treatment on Liver Damage Induced by Dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in Rats

Abstract

Aim: This study aim to evaluate the modulatory effect of ethanolic leaf ext. of Annona muricata against dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatic toxicity in rats. Methodol.: Twenty-four (24) male albino rats divided into four (4) groups of six (6) rats each were used for the study. Group 1 served as control and was untreated, group 2 and 3 were pretreated with 400 mg/kg Annona muricata for one week while group 3 and 4 each received a single oral dose of 20 mg/kg DMN after one week. The rats were sacrificed 48 h after DMN administration. Place and Duration of Study: University of Benin and Benson Idahosa University, Benin city, between Jan. and Apr., 2015. Results: In rats administered 20 mg/kg DMN, Annona muricata pre-treatment at 400 mg/kg body wt. significantly reduced the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino-transferase (AST), alk. phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as significantly increased reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) compared to DMN-alone administered rats which showed the opposite. Histopathol. study in corroborating biochem. anal. also showed significant redn. of liver damage in the rats. Conclusion:Annona muricata significantly restored the antioxidant levels in the liver, counteracted oxidative hepatic dysfunction and exhibited significant protective effect against DMN-induced liver toxicity, which can be mainly attributed to the antioxidant property of Annona muricata. [on SciFinder(R)]