Curative Effect of Spondias mombin L. against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage in Rat

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress is implicated in liver disease pathogenesis. Liver injuries are traditionally treated with stem bark from Spondias mombin . In our previous study, this plant demonstrated promising in vitro antioxidant activities. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatocurative activity of methanolic extract of S. mombin (MESPM) through in vivo studies. Methods: Thirty rats were divided into five groups containing six rats each. Group I was the normal control, group II was the negative control and the other groups were experimental groups. Rats in groups II - V received, firstly, 2 mL/kg/day of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) intraperitoneally, for three days to induce oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. On the following day, groups IV and V were administered MESPM orally for eleven consecutive days, respectively, at 200 and 400 mg/kg/day. Silymarin (50 mg/kg) was used as a standard (group II: positive control). Serum biochemical parameters and in vivo antioxidant activity were measured using standard procedures. Gross and histopathological studies were also performed. Results: CCl 4 induced oxidative stress was manifested by an increase in TBARS level as well as a decrease in FRAP level and DPPH radicals scavenging percentage compared to normal control (P < 0.001). Furthermore, CCl 4 hepatotoxicity caused significant increases in ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin levels, with a decline in total proteins (P < 0.001). However, as a result of treatment with silymarin or MESPM (400 mg/kg), enzyme activities, bilirubina and total protein levels, were significantly reversed. Oxidative stress parameters were also restored. The macroscopic and histopathological changes of hepatocytes against CCl 4 confirmed that MESPM was effective. Conclusion: The results confirm MESPM’s traditional use as a hepatocurative agent, probably due to its antioxidant properties.