Volume 3 • Issue 1 • 1000126 Biochem Pharmacol ISSN:2167-0501 BCPC, an open access journal Research Article Open Access Okpala et al., Biochem Pharmacol 2014, 3:1 DOI: 10.4172/2167-0501.1000126 Abstract Effects of n-butanol fraction of Gongronema latifolium leave extract on some liver function and histological parameters in CCl 4 -induced oxidative damage in Wistar albino rats were assessed. Fifty-four (54) Wistar albino rats were divided into treatment group and LD 50 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 CCl 4 (148 mg/kg) as a 1:1 (v/v) solution in olive oil and all the animals were fasted for 36 hours. 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 signifcant (p<0.05) increase in the serum activities of ALT, AST, ALP and bilirubin concentrations in CCl 4 -induced control group when compared with the normal control and induced treated groups but there was no signifcant (p>0.05) difference of these liver marker enzymes and bilirubin levels between the normal control and induced treated groups. Antioxidant assay on the liver homogenate showed that there was signifcant (p<0.05) decrease in SOD, CAT, GPx and a signifcant increase (p<0.05) in MDA of CCl 4 -induced control rats when compared to the normal control rats but there was no signifcant (p>0.05) difference between the normal control and induced treated groups. These fndings suggested that n-butanol fraction of methanolic leave extract of G. latifolium may have anti-hepatotoxic and antioxidative effects against CCl 4 -induced liver damage in rats. Effects of N-Butanol Fraction of Gongronema Latifolium Leave Extract on Some Liver Function and Histological Parameters in Ccl 4 -Induced Oxidative Damage in Wistar Albino Rats Okpala JC 1* , Igwe JC 2 and Ifedilichukwu HN 3 1 Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria 3 Department of Medical Biotechnology, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria *Corresponding author: Okpala JC, Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, Tel: +2348068670184; E-mail: judeokpch@yahoo.co.uk Received November 21, 2013; Accepted December 23, 2013; Published January 07, 2014 Citation: Okpala JC, Igwe JC, Ifedilichukwu HN (2014) Effects of N-Butanol Fraction of Gongronema Latifolium Leave Extract on Some Liver Function and Histological Parameters in Ccl 4 -Induced Oxidative Damage in Wistar Albino Rats. Biochem Pharmacol 3: 126. doi:10.4172/2167-0501.1000126 Copyright: © 2014 Okpala JC, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Keywords: Gongronema latifolium; Antioxidant; n-butanol; CCl 4 ; Histology Introduction Gongronema latifolium (Asclepiadaceae), is a perennial climber forest leafy vegetable with woody hollow glaborous stems below and characterized by greenish yellow fowers [1]. It is widespread in tropical Africa such as Senegal, Chad and DR Congo as well as grows in the forest of south eastern and western Nigeria where it is widely used for medicinal and nutritional purposes [2]. G. latifolium occurs in rainforest, deciduous and secondary forests, and also in mangrove and disturbed roadside forest, from sea-level up to 900 m altitude. In Nigeria, information available from the indigenous traditional healers claimed that a decoction of the chopped [3] leaves of G. latifolium has been used in the production of several herbal products which are taken orally [1] for the treatment of stomach upsets and pains, dysentery, malaria, typhoid fever, worm and cough [4]. Asthma patients chew fresh leaves to relieve wheezing [1] and a decoction of the roots, combined with other plant species, is taken to treat sickle cell anaemia. A maceration of the leaves in alcohol is taken to treat bilharzia, viral hepatitis and as a general antimicrobial agent [5]. It is also taken as a tonic to treat loss of appetite [4]. Previous studies have revealed that other plants with polyphenols exhibit clear anti-hepatotoxic properties [1], and that favonoids could protect the liver against oxidative injury induced by CCl 4 in vivo [4]. Although many other plants have been reported to possess anti-hepatotoxic properties, the scientifc authentication of most of them such as G. latifolium which is used traditionally to treat several diseases is unavailable [3]. Te qualitative phytochemicals screening of the methanolic leave extract of G. latifolium revealed the presence of glycosides, alkaloids, saponin, favonoids, tannins, and the absence of free anthraquinone. Te quantitative analysis of phytochemical constituents of G. latifolium leaves is presented in Table 1. Te crude extract showed high tannin content followed by glycosides, alkaloids and saponin. Te results in Table 2 also showed that the n-butanol fraction has higher favonoids, polyphenols and ascorbic acid content than the ethylacetate fraction. Te aim of this work is to provide some scientifc support for the health beneft of G. latifolium. To achieve this, studies were carried out to investigate the phytochemical constituents of G. latifolium and to evaluate the anti- hepatotoxic activities of n-butanol fraction of methanolic leave extract of G. latifolium against oxidative damage induced by CCl 4 in Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods Chemicals/reagents All assays kits were from Randox Laboratories Ltd. Ardmore, Co. Antrm UK. Chemicals and reagents used were purchased from Sigma Chemical Company St. Louis U.S.A. and chemicals used were of analytical grade. Folin ciocalteu phenol reagent, gallic acid, carbon tetrachloride (Sigma-Aldrich), distilled water, normal saline. Plant material and extraction Fresh leaves (blend) of G. latifolium were obtained from a B i o c h e m i s t r y & P h a r m a c o l o g y : O p e n A c c e s s ISSN: 2167-0501 Biochemistry & Pharmacology: Open Access