Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy

Open Access
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2022
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue: 4

Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract protects against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity: Possible potential in the management of liver and kidney diseases

  • Author:
  • Temidayo Ogunmoyole1,*, Yetunde Apanisile2, Omowumi Jayeola Makun3, Olaitan Daniel Johnson4, Yusuff Adewale Akeem5
  • Total Page Count: 13
  • Page Number: 540 to 552

1Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

2Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

3Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria

4Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Applied Sciences and Technology, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria

5Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The rising prevalence of liver and kidney diseases is worrisome and constitutes a major threat to public health. The present study investigates the medicinal potentials of Vernonia amygdalina leaves in the management of liver and kidney diseases. Albino rats were randomly divided into five groups of 5 animals each. All experimental animals, except group I, were exposed to 3 ml/kg b.w of CCl4 and administered different treatments. Groups III, IV and V each were treated with 50 mg/kg b.w, 100 mg/kg b.w. of bitter leaf extract and 100 mg/kg b.w. of silymarin respectively. Group II animals were left untreated after exposure to toxicant. Activities of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as level of urea, uric acid and bilirubin were determined in the serum and tissue homogenates. Lipid profile as well as activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were also determined. Exposure to CCl4 resulted in significant increase in CK, AST, ALP, ALT as well as bilirubin, urea and uric acid relative to the control. Lipid profile was deranged, activities of SOD and CAT were markedly inhibited and level of GSH significantly depleted. However, treatment with V. amygdalina reversed the toxic trend in a dose dependent manner comparable to animals treated with silymarin. In conclusion, V. amygdalina leaf extract restored deranged lipid profile, distorted histoarchitecture as well as liver and kidney function markers. Hence, the plant is a potential candidate for the management of liver and kidney diseases.

Keywords

Vernonia amygdalina, Animals, Biomarkers, Carbon tetrachloride, Diseases