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Hepatoprotective Potential of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Launaea taraxacifolia Willd. (Asteraceae) on Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Liver Toxicity in Sprague-Dawley Rats

James AB(1), Olasore HSA(2), Babalola OM(3), Ikujuni AP(4), Magbagbeola OA(5),


(1) Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
(2) Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
(3) Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
(4) Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
(5) Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author

Abstract


Background: Launaea taraxacifolia Willd (Asteraceae), commonly called wild lettuce, is a vegetable used as food and for
various folkloric medicinal purposes and has been traditionally claimed to have protective effects against toxicants.

Objective: This study assessed the potentials of Launaea taraxacifolia ethanol leaf (LTEL) extract pre-treatment in protecting
the liver against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced toxic damage.

Method:Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were pre-treated orally with LTEL extract (100 and 500 mg/kg) and silymarin at 50 mg/kg body weight for 7 days. A single dose of CCl4(3 ml/kg body weight) was administered to the rats orally. After the treatment period, serum levels of hepatic enzymes and antioxidants were assayed. Histopathological examination of liver sections was done.

Results: Pre-treatment of rats with LTEL extract significantly (p<0.05) attenuated CCl4-induced acute increase in serum aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels compared to the group that
received CCl 4 only. Reduced glutathione (GSH) was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the pre-treatment groups while
malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in these groups. No significant (p>0.05) change in catalase (CAT) and
superoxide dismutase (SOD) was observed in all the groups. Histologic examination revealed the protective effect of silymarin
and the extract on the hepatocyte architecture.

Conclusion: This study suggests that Launaea taraxacifolia ethanol leaf extract possesses hepatoprotective property against
CCl 4-induced liver injury through attenuation of oxidative stress.


Keywords


Launaea taraxacifolia, wild lettuce, carbon tetrachloride, hepatotoxicity, silymarin, antioxidants

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