Physiological and histopathological evaluation of the effect of ethyl caffeate on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced liver injury in rats

The objective of the present work is to analyze the physiological and histopathological changes observed due to the effect of Ethyl caffeate, a polyphenol compound present in Solanum Nigrum fruits on CCl₄ induced liver injury in male albino wistar rats. Thirty rats were used (5 groups, 6 animals per group). Group I is normal control given carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Group II is induction control given Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), Group III (Standard control, Silymarin + CCl₄), Group IV (Ethyl caffeate + CCl₄) and Group V (Ethyl caffeate alone). At the end of 6 weeks, rats were sacrificed, physiological parameters (body weight, liver weight) were measured and histopathological observation of liver tissues was performed. From the physiological parameter results, body weight of group IV rats were increased (p< 0.05) compared to group II. Enlargement of liver (hepatomegaly) is caused by CCl₄ injury in group II (liver weight is increased), while the liver weight was reduced to near normal by ethyl caffeate treatment in group IV. Histolpathological analysis of Ethyl caffeate treated rats (group IV) showed less necrosis with mild periportal inflammation compared to group II rats. The findings of this work suggest that ethyl caffeate possess protective effect against liver injury against CCl₄ based on the analysis of physiological and histopathological studies.