Methanolic Extract of Xylopia aethiopica Ameliorates Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Damage in Male Wistar Rats

Aims: To examine the ameliorative effect of the methanolic extract of Xylopia aethiopica in acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage male Wistar rats.
Study Design: Twelve male rats were randomly grouped into four. “A” = Control, “B” = Paracetamol-induced hepatotoxic (PCM-IHT), “C” = 200 mg/kg b.w treated and “D” = 400 mg/kg b.w treated.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, Ojo Lagos, Nigeria between November 2011 and March 2012.
Methodology: “A” received 3.0 ml of distilled water, “B” received 350 mg/kg b.w/day of Paracetamol, “C” after been induced (B) was treated with 200 mg/kg b.w/day and “D” after been induced (B) was treated with 400 mg/kg b.w/day of the plant extract. Two days after the last treatment, the serum was used to assay for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP) using Randox commercial enzyme kits.
Results: The activities of ALT and AST reduced from 85.83±3.4 U/L and 148.2±9.75 U/L in the induced groups to 39.33±1.67 U/L and 68.84±5.72 U/L when treated with 200mg/kg and 35.67±2.46 U/L and 38.26±3.0 U/L when treated with 400 mg/kg respectively. There was no significant difference when 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w treatments were compared with the control (ALT = 38.0±0.40 U/L and AST = 53.71±2.70 U/L) (P>.05). Similarly, the activities of ALP and ACP reduced from 240.8±3.98 U/L and 152.2±7.91 U/L in the induced groups to 126.0±7.62 U/L and 56.17±1.55 U/L when treated with 200 mg/kg and 188.5±4.71 U/L and 93.55±2.18 U/L when treated with 400mg/kg respectively. The 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w treatments appeared to be significantly different from each other but with former being positively correlated with the control (ALP = 135.8±6.74 U/L and ACP = 61.96±4.12 U/L).
Conclusion: The methanolic extract of Xylopia aethiopica possessed hepatoreparative property especially in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity; however, its toxicity needs to be examined.