Notulae Scientia Biologicae (Sep 2020)
Protective potentials of ethyl acetate-ethanolic fraction of Carica papaya leaves against acetaminophen-induced liver damage in rats
Abstract
The liver is an important organ performing vital roles that become affected when damaged. The protective potential of ethyl acetate-ethanolic fraction of Carica papaya leaves on acetaminophen-induced liver damage in female albino rats was investigated. Forty female rats were completely randomized into eight groups (A-H) of five rats each. Group A (control), received 1 ml of distilled water, group B (untreated) received 250 mgkg-1 bw of acetaminophen, group C received silymarin (50 mgkg-1 bw) followed by actaminophen (250 mgkg-1 bw), groups D-G received 100, 200, 400 and 600 mgkg-1 bw of ethyl acetate-ethanolic fraction of Carica papaya leaves respectively; followed by acetaminophen administration (250 mgkg-1 bw), while group H (toxicity control) received 600 mgkg-1 bw extract fraction daily. Ethyl acetate-ethanolic fraction of Carica papaya leaves significantly (p<0.05) decreased the activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase and bilirubin concentration and increased the concentrations of total protein and albumin in acetaminophen-induced liver damaged rats when compared with the untreated group. Prevention of liver damage was observed in the groups pre-administered 400 and 600 mgkg-1 bw of the extract fraction as well as the silymarin group. Activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and the concentration of glutathione were significantly (p<0.05) increased while the concentration of malondialdehyde was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in rats pre-administered with silymarin or the extract fraction when compared with the acetaminophen-induced rats. Ethyl acetate-ethanolic fraction of Carica papaya leaves prevented acetaminophen-induced rat liver damage probably mainly due to the antioxidant constituents of the fraction.
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