Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanolic Extract of the Seed of Flacourtia jangomas against \(ccl_4\) -Induced Liver Damage in Rat Model

Abstract

Background: Hepatotoxicity is a serious global concern caused by the increased use of non-pharmacological substances and drugs. There are numerous medications available to treat this condition, the most well-known of which being silymarin. Although few, silymarin has certain adverse effects, which is why many are looking for alternatives, and medicinal plants may be a viable option. According to studies, Flacourtia jangomas has the potential to scavenge free radicals among therapeutic plants. We carried out this research to determine the hepatoprotective effects of an ethanolic extract of Flacourtia jangomas seeds. Methods: The experiment used 45 rats divided into 9 groups of five each. 25 of them developed hepatotoxicity as a result of regular CCl4 administration.  One of the groups was the disease control group, while the other four were given their respective treatments. The treatment groups received 300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg of Flacourtia jangomas seed extract, respectively. After 28 days of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were obtained to assess several parameters. Results: Based on the result of the tests, all of the abnormal levels of serum glutamate oxidoacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), creatinine, urea, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride (TG) were restored to normal levels in a dose-dependent manner, but a high dose in the case of SGPT and creatinine, and a medium and high dose in the case of urea, HDL, LDL, and TG were required to significantly restore the abnormal level with 95% confidence intervals. Discussion: This study provides evidence that Flacourtia jangomas seed extract has the ability to provide hepatoprotection by acting as a free radical scavenger, possibly due to the presence of components like flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins. Conclusion: As the seed of Flacourtia jangomas has the potential to exhibit hepatoprotective activity, intensive research is needed to isolate the genuine therapeutic compounds utilizing hydrophilic and hydrophobic solvents and introduce novel compounds to the disease management system.