Effects of n-butanol fraction of Gongronema latifolium leave extract on some biochemical parameters in CCl4- induced oxidative damage in Wistar albino rats

Effects of n-butanol fraction of Gongronema latifolium leave extract on some biochemical parameters in carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative damage in Wistar albino rats were assessed. Fifty-four (54) Wister albino rats were divided into treatment group and LD50 groups. Group A (normal control) was given feed and water, Group B (vehicle control) was injected with olive oil intraperitoneally, while the rest groups (C, D, E, F and G) were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of CCl4 (148 mg/kg) as a 1:1 (v/v) solution in olive oil and all the animals were fasted for 36 h. This was repeated once every week for a period of four (4) weeks. At the end of 28 days of treatment, liver marker enzymes studies showed that there was significant (p 0.05) difference of these liver marker enzymes and bilirubin levels between the normal control and induced treated groups. Kidney function studies showed that there was significant (p 0.05) difference between the normal control and induced treated groups. Also, the kidney and liver antioxidant study revealed significant (p<0.05) decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities as well as an increase in MDA concentration in CCl4-induced control rats when compared with the normal control rats. Histological section of the organs shows that the levels of hepatic and renal damage were higher in CCl4-induction control rats when compared with the normal control and induced treated groups. These findings suggest that n-butanol fraction of methanolic leaves extract of G. latifolium may have anti-hepatotoxic, anti-nephrotoxic and antioxidative effects against CCl4-induced liver and kidney damage in albino rats. Key words: Gongronema latifolium, antioxidant, CCl4, liver, kidney.