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Background: Avocado (Persea americana) is one of the plants widely used in ethnomedicine in Nigeria. The present study was aimed at investigating effects of aqueous Avocado (Persea americana) leaf extract on total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, protein and haematological parameters in carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-intoxicated rats. Methods: We evaluated the possible effects of pre-treatment with aqueous extract of Persea americana (AEPA) on protein, total cholesterol (T-CHOL), triacylglycerols (TAGs) and haematological parameters in Wistar male albino rats intoxicated with CCl 4. Group 1 was the healthy control; group 2 rats were pre-treated with Reducdyn® (100 mg/kg/ day) as a standard drug, groups 4 and 5 rats were pre-treated with AEPA at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg per day respectively, the treatments were administered orally for 7 days. On the seventh day, rats in the treatment groups were injected with a fresh mixture of CCl 4 and olive oil (3 ml/kg, 1:1; sc). Results: Pre-treatment of rats with AEPA resulted in marked increase (p < 0.05) in total protein and reduction in T-CHOL (19-34%) compared to CCl 4 alone. Also, there was significant decrease (p < 0.05) in serum TAG concentration when rats were pre-treated with 100 mg and 200 mg kg − 1 b. wt. AEPA. Similarly, AEPA provoked (p < 0.05) a lowering of T-CHOL and TAG levels and an increase in liver protein concentration in the rats. Administration of AEPA at both concentrations restored (p < 0.05) WBC count and ameliorated neutropenia and lymphocytosis caused by CCl 4 intoxication. Conclusion: These results suggest that AEPA could be protective against the development of fatty liver and might also be exhibiting the potential to prevent alterations in haematological parameters caused by CCl 4 intoxication in rats.

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The present study aims to evaluate the protective effect of methanolic leaf extract and flavonoid-rich leaf extract of Synsepalum dulcificum on lead-acetate-induced toxicity in Wistar albino rats. Forty-five animals were distributed into nine groups with five animals apiece. Group 1 served as the control and was given only distilled water throughout the course of the study. Group 2 served as the lead-induced group and was administered 50 mg/kg lead-acetate. Groups 3-8 were co-administered 50 mg/kg lead-acetate and various doses of the extracts. Group 9 was administered 40 mg/kg vitamin C in addition to 50 mg/kg lead-acetate. The study lasted for 14 days. Standard procedures were used to evaluate the hematological indices, serum total protein, urea, creatinine, as well as marker enzymes in liver and kidney of the animals. Malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione-s-transferase activities were also estimated in the tissues. The results showed that the extracts, especially the high doses, significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated the harmful effects of lead administration in the liver and kidney as well as in the hematological indices. The extract could, therefore, be considered as having protective effect on lead-induced toxicity in Wistar albino rats.