Extract of Icacina trichanta Improves lipid Profile and CCl4- Induced Histological Changes in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Aim: This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Icacina trichanta on lipid profile and CCl4- induced histological changes in Wistar rats. Study Design: Liver damage was induced with CCl4 and the rats were treated with aqueous extract of Icacina trichanta. Place and Duration of Study: This study was undertaken at the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, between January to March 2014. Methodology: Phytochemical screening, lipid profile analysis and histopathological studies were carried out. Thirty-five male rats were divided into seven groups of five rats each. Groups I (normal control) and III rats were not induced. Groups II (negative control), IV, V, VI and VII were induced with 1.0 ml CCl4/kg body weight. Group II rats were not administered the extract, while those in group IV received 100 mg/kg bw of silymarin. Varied concentrations of the extract ranging from 200 to 400 mg/kg bw was administered to the test rats. Results: Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and polyphenols. The concentration of triacylglycerol (TG) in the CCl4 control was significantly increased when compared with the normal control group (p<0.05). Concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of the CCl4 control were significantly reduced relative to the normal control and the test rats (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) among the groups (p > 0.05). Results of histopathological examinations showed an ameliorative effect of aqueous leaf extract of Icacina trichanta on hepatorenal toxicity. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of I. trichanta leaf improves lipid profile and CCl4-induced histological changes in Wistar rats.