STUDY ON FRESH LEAF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF FLACOURTIA INDICA FOR HEPATOPROTECTIVE, ANTI-ANEMIC AND HYPOGLYCEMIC ABILITIES IN CCL4 INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Objective: Hepatic injury and its associated conditions have been reportedly shown to be managed through herbal remedies. In this study, investigation of the fresh leaf aqueous extract of Flacourtia indica (of the family of Salicaceae) as hypoglycemic, antianemic and hepatoprotective agent in albino wistar rats induced CCl4 hepatotocxicity was done. Methods: Fifteen rats of either sex, weighing 175-295g, divided into five groups (I-V) of three rats each, were used. Group-I is negative control, II-positive control and III –V test groups. Groups II-V were induced 200mg/Kg/bodyweight CCl4, for 3-days, for hepatic injury and anemia. Groups III-V were respectively treated orally with 400, 600 and 800 mg/Kg/bodyweight of fresh leaf aqueous extracts (FLAE) of Flacourtia indica, for 7-days. Results: Activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, concentrations of bilirubin, albumin, total protein, blood glucose and packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin were assayed. Results after induction showed significant (p˂0.05) decrease in heamoglobin and PCV, significant (p˂0.05) increase in the liver function enzymes and blood glucose compared with results of liver function enzyme and blood glucose having significant (p˂0.05) decrease, and significant (p˂0.05) increase of PCV and hemoglobin after treatment with FLAE of Flacourtia indica. Body weight of rats induced CCl4 was found to increase with FLAE of Flacourtia indica treatment. Conclusion: It may be concluded that the potentials exhibited by FLAE of Flacourtia indica to manage hyperglycaemia, hepatic injury and anemia induced by CCl4 are associated with its antioxidant activity and the presence of phytochemicals, minerals and nutrients value.