Hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride: protective effect of Gongronema latifolium.

The protective effect of the ethanolic extract of Gongronema latifolium (GLE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) induced hepatic toxicity was studied. Liver enzymes studied included alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotraferase (AST), and alkaline phosphates (ALP). Hepatic injuries involved with possible necrosis which may have contributed to its possible pathogenesis was explored. Administration of toxicant only showed that the ALT level was significantly (P<0.05) increased to 345.83% when compared to control. Pretreatment with Gongronema latifolium extract (GLE) non-significantly (P<0.05) decreased to 13.08% when compared to those treated with toxicant only. Also under experimental conditions, increasing the concentration of Gongronema latifoluim extract (GLE) non-significantly (P<0.05) decreased dose-dependently the level of ALT to 18.20%. The AST level was non-significantly (P<0.05) increased to 41.55% on treatment with toxicant only. Pretreatment with GLE decreased the AST level non-significantly (P<0.05) to 25.76%. No evident increase or decrease in the level of ALP was observed. Treatments with toxicant showed liver cells filled with uniformly distributed dense small fat droplets, large nuclei, inflamed cells and evidence of necrosis and fibrosis. Pretreatment with 100mg/kg of the extract showed microvesicular fatty change with no evidence of inflammation, necrosis or fibrosis. The protective effect of the GLE was more pronounced in ALT and AST. However, the GLE has a strong modulatory effect against the hepatocellular damage induced by carbon tetrachloride.