HEPATO PROTECTIVE AND ANTIOXIDANT FUNCTION OF INDIAN ALMOND (TERMINALIA CATAPPA) LEAF EXTRACT IN AUGMENTIN-INDUCED WISTAR RATS EXPERIMENTAL MODEL
Exploration of the potential hepato protective benefit of the Indian almond in rats exposed to liver damage was the focus of this investigation. Parameters such as AST, ALT, ALP, T.P and albumin levels, as well as antioxidant activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT, GSH, and MDA were evaluated. Thirty Wistar rats that weighted 150 to 200grams were divided into five groups of six rats each. The study was designed such that; Group 1 (Normal control), Group 2 (Positive control) were both given (10ml/kg) dose of normal saline per body weight. Group 3 and Group 4 had 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses of the extract per body weight, respectively, while Group 5 (standard) was orally administered 200 mg/kg of vitamin E from day 1 to day 14. On days 15 to 21, Group 2, 3, 4, and 5 were treated with 30mg/kg dose of augmentin. The rats were then sacrificed painlessly (under chloroform anesthesia) on day 22nd, and blood sample by cardiac puncture collected to test liver function. Liver tissues were obtained and homogenized for antioxidant analysis. The results showed that augmentin-intoxicated group of rats had significant (p < 0.05) decrease in SOD, CAT, GSH, T.P, and albumin levels compared to the normal control group. There was significant increase in ALT, AST, ALP, and MDA levels when compared to normal control group. However, pretreatment with Indian almond leaf extract (at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg for Groups 3 and 4, respectively) led to significant increases in SOD, CAT, GSH, T.P, and albumin levels. Also, there was significant (p<0.05) decrease in MDA, ALT, AST, and ALP levels compared to the positive control group. Meanwhile, administration of 200mg/kg dose of Vitamin E caused significant increase in SOD, CAT, GSH, T.P, and albumin levels, along with decrease in MDA, ALT, AST, and ALP levels compared to the positive control group. Pretreatment with extract in group 3 and 4, also caused significant (p<0.05) decrease in mean weight gain, when compared with the normal and positive control groups. From this study, it can be inferred that Indian almond leaf extract has antioxidant activities and can give protection to Wistar rats’ liver that were subjected to augmentin-induced hepatic damage.
Keywords: liver, antioxidant enzymes, Indian almond, ALT, AST, ALP.
