Comparative evaluation of the protective effect of leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) and Ocimum canum (curry) on acetaminophen induced acute liver toxicity

Abstract

The quest for alternate medicine in preventing and combating hepatotoxicity led to the screening of aqueous and ethanol extracts of dried leaves of Vernonia amygdalina Delile (bitter leaf) and Ocimum canum Linn (curry leaf) for phytochemicals and in vitro antioxidant properties. Some rats were pretreated with the extracts and later administered with 2g/kg of body weight single dose of acetaminophen and the hepatoprotective effect of the extracts was determined by assessing the liver function, antioxidant enzyme activities and histological status of their livers, using standard biochemical methods.The extracts were rich in bioactive compounds and showed concentrationdependent variation in in vitro free radical (DPPH) scavenging activity. A 400mg/kg of body weight per day pretreatment (for seven days) with the extracts gave hepatoprotection to the rats. This was evidenced in the reduction of the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by 43% in aqueous extract of O. canum to 92% in V. amygdalina and marked increase of the serum albumin concentration. Aqueous leaf extract of V. amygdalina caused the highest increase in GPx activity while ethanol leaf extract of O. canum gave the highest (350%) increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, compared to the negative control. Also the lobular architecture of the hepatocytes was preserved. V. amygdalina and O. canum have important role in medicine as they contain substances that scavenge free radicals, stimulate activities of antioxidant enzymes and preserve the liver architecture in occasion of acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity.

UHPLC-DAD characterization of bioactive secondary metabolites from Ocimum americanum and Pupalia lappacea extracts: Antioxidant activity and antihypertensive effects on L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats

“…A large similarity was observed with previous published data about O. americanum (Birari and Dhulgande, 2010;Sarma and Venkata, 2011). However, differences were observed with coumarins (Dibala et al, 2016), alkaloids (Enemali and Udedi, 2018) and tannins (Elya et al, 2015). Regarding P. lappacea, a similitude was also observed with previous study (Udegbunam et al, 2014;Hoekou et al, 2012).…”

“…In this study, the analysis of ethanol extracts of O. americanum and P. lappacea allowed identification of phenolic acids and flavonoids which could contribute to their antioxidant and antihypertensive activity. The antioxidant activity of O. americanum (Shobo et al, 2015;Dinata et al, 2015;Enemali and Udedi, 2018) and P. lappacea (Apenteng et al, 2014;Prasad et al, 2014;Jazy et al, 2018) have been reported previously; thus, the decrease of MBP might be associated with the phenolic acids and flavonoids identified in extracts. Indeed, ferulic acid is one of these phenolic acids endowed with varied biological potential such as antioxidant, increase NO synthesis, free radical scavenger activity and vasodilatory effect (Kumar and Vikas, 2014;Drăgan et al, 2018).…”

Toxicological Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Bitter (Vernonia Amygdalina) on Liver Enzymes of Albino Rats

“…The cooked leaves are a staple vegetable in soups and stews of various cultures throughout equatorial Africa. Africa common names includes Grawa ( Amharic), Ewuro (Yoruba), Etidot (Ibibio), Onugbu (Igbo), Nyuna (Tiv), Oriwo (Edo), Labwori (Acholi), Olusia (Luo) and ndoleh (Cameroon) (Michael, Stanley, 2018).…”

“…Vernonia amygdalina is well known as a medicinal plant with several uses attributed to it, including for diabetes, fever reduction, and recently a non-pharmaceutical solution to persistent fever, headache, and joint pain associated with AIDs, infusion of the plant is taken as needed (Michael, Stanley, 2018). The leaves have a sweet and bitter taste, they are sold fresh or dried, and it is a typical ingredient in egusi soup (Oyeyemi et al, 2018).…”