Hepatoprotective effect of parkia biglobosa stem bark methanolic extract on paracetamol induced liver damage in Wistar Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of the methanolic extract of parkia biglobosa stem bark on a single daily dose of oral administration of 500 mg/kg BW of paracetamol (acetaminophen, PCM) induced hepatotoxicity in wistar rats. The rats were divided into (5 groups. The rats in group I served as control and received distilled water, group II were given orally a single daily dose of 500 mg/kg BW of paracetamol for 7 days. Group III, IV, and V received a single daily dose of 500 mg/kg BW of paracetamol and then treated orally with 140 mg/kg BW acetylcysteine, 100 mg/kg BW low dose and 200 mg/kg BW high dose of parkia biglobosa respectively for 21 days. The activities of liver function marker enzymes were determined in the serum of the rat liver homogenate. Paracetamol caused liver damage as evident by significant increased (p≤0.05) (49.63±1.99; 39.41±1.99; 78.58±1.72) in the serum levels of Alkaline phosphatase (AP), Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT) respectively. Low dose 100mg/kg BW of Parkia biglobosa significantly increased (p≤0.05) serum AP levels (65.42±1.6) but significantly reduced serum levels of ALT and AST (43.80±2.4; 36.77±1.58) respectively. High dose 200 mg/kg BW of Parkia biglobosa significantly reduced (p≤0.05) serum levels of AP, ALT and AST (26.58±0.34; 33.68±2.02; 31.08±0.34) respectively. Acetylcysteine (standard reference drug ) significantly reduced (p≤0.05) ALT and AST levels (43.46±1.67; 30.10±1.01) respectively, but the reduction in AP level (46.64±1.01) was not significant. The activity of parkia biglobosa is comparable with acetylcysteine, a known hepatoprotective drug. Thus, Parkia biglobosa exhibits hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol toxicity.