Treatment with Markhamia tomentosa Benth. K. Schum prevents carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

Abstract

Objective: Markhamia tomentosa (Bignoniaceae) is a medicinal plant with several pharmacological properties. However, its hepatoprotective effects have been little studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of the aqueous trunk bark extract of this plant against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in rat. Material and Methods: Thirty male albino Wistar rats were divided into six groups (five each) with Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 as negative (distilled water), normal (distilled water), positive (silymarin 25 mg/kg), and plant extract (50 mg/kg) controls, respectively. Groups 5 and 6 were used as test groups and were given plant extract (25 or 50 mg/kg, respectively). Rats were pretreated once a day for 14 days orally with different substances. CCl4 (0.5 mL/kg, i.p.) was administered on days 4 and 11 to all groups except Groups 1 and 4, to induce hepatitis. The rats were then sacrificed on day 15; liver functions and oxidative stress were assessed as well as histopathological changes. Results: M. tomentosa extract significantly and dose dependently decreased alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, and malondialdehyde values while increasing catalase, and glutathione values compared to the CCl4-treated group. Histological findings showed a reduction in necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver while the lumen of distal and proximal tubes was improved in the kidney by the plant extract. These results may be due to some of the major bioactives compounds found in the aqueous extract. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the aqueous extract of M. tomentosa may have liver protective effects through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, supporting thereby its ethnomedicinal uses.