ABSTRACT

This study investigated the protective effect of n—hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia leaf on sodium arsenite induced hepatotoxicity in male wistar rats. total of twenty—eight (28) wistar rats were divided randomly into four groups, group 1 was the control and was given only feed and water, group 2 was orally administered 250mg/kg body weight of Emilia sonchifolia extract, group 3 was intraperitoneally administered 2.5mg/kg body weight of sodium arsenite and group 4 was administered 2.5mg/kg body weight of sodium arsenite and 250mg/kg body weight of Emilia sonchifolia extract daily for 14 days. The animals were sacrificed after the experimental period of two weeks. Significant (p<0.05) increase in MDA, and decrease in SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH was bbserved in group 3 (sodium arsenite only treated group) when compared with control which indicates oxidative damage. A significant (p<0.05) decrease in MDA and significant (p<0.05) increase in SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH was observed in group 4 (Na2AsO3+ ESE) when compared with group 3 (sodium arsenite only treated group). A significant (p<0.05) increase in serum liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT), and total bilirubin was seen in group 3 (sodium arsenite only treated group) when compared with the control which indicates liver damage. •Significant (p<0.05) decrease in the activities of serum liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT), arkl total bilirubin was observed in group 4 (Na2AsO3+ ESE) when compared with group 3 (sodium arsenite only treated group). This was evident from the histopathological studies. From the experiment, it is concluded that the n—hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia showed significant hepatoproctective and beneficial antioxidant effects on biochemical indices of rats exposed to sodium arsenite.