ABSTRACT

This study investigated the protective effect of n-hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia leaf on sodium arsenite induced hepatotoxicity in male wistar rats. A 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 observed 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), and 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.