[01] Chinedu Imo, Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria. [02] Friday O. Uhegbu, Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria. [03] Ifeanacho Nkeiruka Glory, Department of Animal Production and Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. [04] Azubuike Nkiruka C., Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.

This study examined the histological and hepatoprotective effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium Benth in acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity in male albino rats. The serum liver enzymes ALT, AST and ALP decreased significantly (p≤0.05) in all the test animals treated with the leaf extract compared to the negative control. ALT decreased from 67.96 ± 1.09 U/L to 45.87 ± 0.37 U/L, while AST and ALP decreased from 97.26 ± 0.42 U/L to 53.93 ± 0.22 U/L and 242.05 ± 0.56 U/L to 164.66 ± 0.39 U/L respectively in the groups administered 600mg/kg of the leaf extract. Proteins reduced in the group administered only acetaminophen, but increased significantly (p≤0.05) in the test groups administered the plant extract (compared with the negative control). Total protein, albumin and globulin increased from 4.10 ± 0.09 to 7.17 ± 0.11 gm%, 2.31 ± 0.26 to 3.06 ± 0.10 gm% and 1.79 ± 0.22 to 4.11 ± 0.17 respectively in the group administered 600mg/kg of the leaf extract. Bilirubin increased in the group administered only acetaminophen (compared with the normal control), but reduced significantly (p≤0.05) in the groups administered the leaf extract when compared with the negative control. Total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and indirect bilirubin reduced from 4.34 ± 0.22 to 2.13 ± 0.08 mg/dl, 2.69 ± 0.04 to 1.72 ± 0.03 mg/dl and 1.65 ± 0.22 to 0.41 ± 0.07 mg/dl respectively in the group administered 600mg/kg of the leaf extract. The histological analysis of the liver section of rat treated with 1000mg/kg b.wt of Acetaminophen (APAP) only show degeneration of hepatocytes in some periportal zones and Inflammatory cellular infiltration, but administration of the extract and APAP showed that the extract had a protective effect when compared with the effected liver. These results indicate that the leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium Benth has histological and hepatoprotective effect.

Hepatoprotective, Acetaminophen, Gongronema latifolium Benth, Liver Impairment, Histology

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