Acute, Sub-acute and Chronic Hepatotoxicity Profiling of Commelina diffusa Aqueous Extract in Wistar Albino Rats: A Comprehensive OECD 425 TG Study

Abstract

This study investigated the acute, sub-acute, and chronic hepatotoxicity profiling of Commelina diffusa aqueous extract in Wistar albino rats: a comprehensive OECD 425 TG study. Fourty (40) adult non-pregnant Wistar rats weighing 120 and 170g were purchased from the Biochemistry Animal House, University of Port Harcourt. The rats were divided into ten groups of five rats per group. Group 1 served as normal control while group 2-4, 5-7, and 8-10 were orally administered 166, 250, and 500mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Commelina diffusa for 7, 14, and 21 days. All biochemical analysis were carried out based on standard methods. The mean homogenate ALT, AST, and ALP activities of the control were 41.26±0.02U/L, 662.73±0.02U/L, and 38.93±0.04U/L respectively while the extract administered group at 500mg/kg for 21 day were 19.12±0.02U/L, 33.54±0.04U/L, and 21.37±0.03U/L respectively, which were significantly different from the control. The mean homogenate MDA, GSH levels, GPx, CAT, and SOD activities of the control were 29.93±0.02mmol/l, 46.74±0.03μg/mg protein, 59.32±0.03IU/g, 85.45±0.02mg/pro.min, and 27.53±0.02 mg/g respectively while the extract administered at 500mg/kg for 21 days were 17.26±0.03mmol/l, 62.83±0.02μg/mg.protein, 76.81±0.04IU/g, 107.8±60.05mg/pro.min, and 57.86±0.03 mg/g respectively, which were significantly different from the control. The mean plasma total cholesterol, HDL, VLDL, and triglyceride levels of the control were 63.01±0.02 mg/dl, 36.16±0.03 mg/dl, 8.62±0.02 mg/dl, and 28.52±0.02 mg/dl while those of the extract administered at 500mg/kg for 21 days were 72.14±0.03 mg/dl, 52.08±0.02 mg/dl, 14.37±0.05 mg/dl, and 47.43±0.02 mg/dl respectively, which were significantly different from the control. Commelina diffusa extract enhanced the metabolism of all the assayed parameters, hence it is less toxic at 500mg/kg.