Original Research Article
Garcinia Kola Extract (Kolaviron) Prevents DMH Induced Liver Damage in Wistar Rats by Restoring Antioxidants
Eboh Abraham Sisein1, Ere Diepreye2, Robert Faith Owabhel3, Arhoghro Ejowoke Marcellinous1
1Biochemistry Department, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
2Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta
University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
3Human Anatomy, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Eboh Abraham Sisein
ABSTRACT
Garcinia kola, a medicinal herb, commonly used in folk medicine to treat many diseases including hepatitis, jaundice, ulcer, stomach ache, high fever etc. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of kolaviron (Garcinia kola extract) against DMH (1,2-dimethylhydrazine) experimentally induced liver injury. The respective doses ofkolaviron100mg/kg and DMH 30 mg/kg were administered accordingly; Male albino wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 served as control, received 1mM EDTA-saline injection subcutaneous (s.c) once a week for 4 weeks. Group 2 rats served as kolaviron (KV) control received 100 mg/kg bodyweight of kolaviron per oral (p.o.) every day. Group 3 served as carcinogen control, received 30 mg/kg bodyweight of DMH subcutaneous injection once a week for 4 weeks to induce liver injury. Group 4 rats received DMH injection and kolaviron 100 mg/kg bodyweight. The hepatotoxicity assays were measured by monitoring the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The livers were collected and subjected to biochemical and antioxidant analysis. Garcinia kola extract (kolaviron) possessed strong antioxidant activity in vivo. The results of DMH-induced livertoxicity experiment showed significant decrease in the levels and activities of GSH, SOD, GST, GPxand CAT. On the other handthe activities of ALT, AST and ALP were increased in DMH alone treated rats (p < 0.05).The results observed after administration of100mg/kgkolaviron elevated the levels and activities of GSH, SOD, GST, GPx and CAT (p < 0.05).Also the elevated activities of ALT, AST and ALP in DMH treated rats alone were also decreased significantly (p < 0.05) due to the co-treatment of kolaviron. These results seem to support the traditional use of Garcinia kola in pathologies involving hepatotoxicity, and the possible mechanism of this activity may be due to strong freeradical-scavenging and antioxidant activities of kolaviron.
Key words:Garcinia kola, medicinal herb.