Hepatoprotective Effect Of Annona Muricata On Acetaminophen-induced Liver Toxicity

*¹Usunobun U. and ²Adegbegi A. J.

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Edo University Iyamho, Edo State, Nigeria
²Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Food Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria, muyithegreat@yahoo.com

Corresponding Author: usunobun.usunomena@edouniversity.edu.ng; Tel: +2348034174871

Recieved Date: June, 2020; Accepted Date: June, 2020; Published Date: June, 2020

ABSTRACT

Background: Annona muricata commonly found in Africa possesses a variety of traditional medicinal uses in treatment of Kidney stones, liver problems, fever, nervousness, ulcers and wounds. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect of Annona muricata leaf against acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats divided into four groups were used. Group I served as control and received normal saline, group II received 300mg/kg Annona muricata aqueous leaf extract for seven consecutive days. Group III in addition to 1g/kg acetaminophen for seven days, received 300mg/kg Annona muricata extract for seven days while group IV received only 1g/kg acetaminophen for seven consecutive days. Following 24hrs of last treatment, the rats were sacrificed; serum collected, centrifuged and used for determination of aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), total protein, albumin and bilirubin. Results: The results of this study indicated that rats treated with Annona muricata leaf showed significant decrease in ALT, AST, ALP and bilirubin levels which were all elevated in the acetaminophen alone treated rats (p < 0.05). Also a significant increase (p ? 0.05) in total protein and albumin, was also observed in Annona muricata leaf treated groups compared to acetaminophen alone treated group. Conclusion: High dose of acetaminophen increased the markers of hepatotoxicity whereas co-administration with Annona muricata leaf decreased the markers of hepatotoxicity. This study provides evidence on the hepatoprotective effect of Annona muricata leaf against liver- induced damage which might be attributed to the presence of bioactive and antioxidative activity of Annona muricata leaf extract.