African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (24), pp. 2439-2445, 18 December 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Alchornea cordifolia extract protects wistar albino rats against acetaminophen-induced liver damage

M. T. Olaleye*, O. O. Adegboye and A. A. Akindahunsi

Biochemistry Department, Federal University Of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Authors E-mail: tolu1967@yahoo.co.uk.

Accepted 8 November, 2006

At the therapeutic doses, aetaminophen (N-acety1-p-aminophenol, paracetamol, AAP) is considered a safe drug, intake of toxic dosage could lead to liver disease. The hepatoxicity of AAP is mainly as a result of oxidative stress mediated by the metabolites of APP. The present work seeks to evaluate phytochemical constituents, antioxidative properties and hepatoprotective activities leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia on acetaminophen-induced hepatoxicityin rats. Phytochemical analyses gave positive results for saponins, tannins and flavonoids. The antioxidative properties revealed total phenolic content of 0.22 mg/ml and reducing power 0.062 mg/ml as compared to vitamin E with a reducing power of 0.042 mg/ml. Oral administration of a single acetaminophen dose (2 g/kg) caused oxidative liver damage as determined by alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, cholesterol and bilirubin levels in the liver and the serum. The administration of 200-500 mg/kg A. cordifolia leaf extract for 2 weeks produced a significant dose-dependent curative/preventive effect on acetaminophen-nduced liver toxicity as reflected by the above biochemical markers. The protective effect compared favorably with putative antioxidant agents such as curcumin and Vitamin E.  The results so far suggest that the hepatoprotective activity of this plant against acetaminophen-nduced liver damage is connected to its antioxidative properties.

Key words: Alchornea cordifolia, acetaminophen, aminotransferase, hepatoprotective agents.