ABSTRACT

The study investigated the effect of Asystasia gangetica leaves towards hepato-protective activity against monosodium glutamate intoxication. A total of 120-180 g body weight (b.w) was used for this study. Eighteen male Wistar albino mice and 20 male Wistar albino rats were used for acute toxicity and hepato-protection effects respectively. The rats were divided into 5 groups of 4 rats each. Group 1 served as normal control that received distilled water only while group 2 was Monosodium glutamate induced untreated group. Group 3 was Monosodium glutamate induced treated with standard drug (Silymarin). Group 4 and 5 were treated with low and high doses of the extract continually for the next I4 days. The animals were sacrificed on day I5 at the duration of the study and their blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis. Levels of liver marker enzymes - Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline aminotransferase as well as serum total protein concentration, serum albumin concentration and bilirubin levels were tested for. The histomorphology of the liver was taken also examined in all four groups of animals studied. The results showed a marked restoration in activities of the liver marker enzymes when the animals pre-treated with extract in group 4 and 5 were compared to that of the monosodium glutamate control in group 2. This result was comparable to the effect of Silymarin in the treated group 3 rats. The marked restoration of the liver function parameter towards normality by the plant extract as shown in this study, lead to conclusive, evidence that the methanol extract of Asystasia gangetica leaves possess hepato-protective activity against Monosodium glutamate- induced liver damage in rats studied. The study showed that the administration of monosodium glutamate caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in group 2 in levels of liver marker enzymes activities when compared to other groups. However, there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in total protein, albumin, and a significant (p<0.05) increase in total bilirubin and direct bilirubin concentrations respectively when compared to other groups. The study showed that the extract possess hepato-protective properties which when administered in a dose dependent manner will avert the liver from injury and damages.