ABSTRACT

This work evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of methanol leaf extract of piper nigrum on CdCl2 induced wistar albino rats. A total of 28 male wistar albino rats were purchased from the Veterinary Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The rats were acclimatized for a period of one week and fed vital grower mash and water ad libitum. They were further divided into four groups of seven rats each. Group 1 (normal control) was given only feed and water, group 2 was orally administered 500mg/kg body weight of P. nigrurn leaf extract while group 3 was intrapertoneally administered 1.2mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride. Group 4 was administered 1 .2mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride + 500mg/kg body weight of piper nigrurn extract daily for 14 days. The rats were sacrificed after the 14t1) day, blood drawn and their liver collected and stored for further biochemical analysis. Result of the study showed that serum enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT), serum albumin and total bilirubin were significantly (P <0.05) increased in group 3 when compared with the control group (group 1), this indicated liver damage. Treatment with methanol leaf extract of P. nigrum significantly (P <0.05) decreased the activities of the serum enzymes, albumin and total bilirubin in group 4 when compared with group 3. Significant (P < 0.05) decrease was observed in serum antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPx), GSH and increase in MDA when group 3 was compared with group 1, which was an indication of oxidative damage. Group 4 on the other hand showed significant (P <0.05) increase in these serum enzymes, GSH and decrease in MDA when compared with group 3. This showed that the administration of methanol leaf extract of piper nigrurn in group 4 increased the activities of the antioxidants thereby decreasing oxidation while preventing lipid peroxidation. Result of group 2 showed non-toxic effect on the rats when compared with the control group (group 1), this was evident from the histopathological studies. These results show that leaf extracts of piper nigrurn is a good source of antioxidants and therefore, possess hepatoprotective properties.