Ukwubile CA et al., IJBM, 2017; 1:4 Research Article IJBM (2017) 1:4 International Journal of Bioscience and Medicine (ISSN:2575-7814) Thaumatococcus daniellii Benn. (Marantaceae) Leaf Methanol Extract Possessed Hepatoprotective Effect Against Acetaminophen- induced Liver Injury in Albino Rats *1Ukwubile CA, 2Musa YD and 2Troy SM 1 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Biology Unit, School of Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic Bali, Nigeria. 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. ABSTRACT [Background]Acetaminophen or Paracetamol is widely used as *Correspondence to Author: analgesic and antipyretic or antimalarial drug, but at high dose it Ukwubile CA, leads to undesirable side effects, such as hepatotoxicity. [Objec- Department of Science Laboratory tive]This present study demonstrates the in vivo hepatoprotec- Technology, Biology Unit, School of tive effect of Thaumatococcus daniellii against acetaminophen Science and Technology, Federal induced liver toxicity. [Methods] Acetaminophen- induced liver Polytechnic Bali, Nigeria. injury was evaluated by an increase in serum AST (or SGOT), Email: doccletus@ yahoo.com ALT (or SGPT), ALP activity and bilirubin level accompanied by Telephone: +234 (0) 8036965667 significant decrease in albumin level. [Results] Acetaminophen hepatoxicity was manifested by an increase in lipid peroxidation, How to cite this article: depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase activity in Ukwubile CA et al., Thaumatococ- liver tissue. Oral administration of the plant extract protects the cus daniellii Benn. (Marantaceae) rats against acetaminophen induced liver injury by increased Leaf Methanol Extract Possessed lipid peroxidation, restored altered serum marker enzymes and Hepatoprotective Effect Against Ac- antioxidant level to normal liver morphology.[Conclusion]The etaminophen-induced Liver Injury results showed that T. daniellii leaf extract displayed significant in Albino Rats. International Journal liver healing efficacy against acetaminophen induced hepatotox- of Bioscience and Medicine, 2017; icity in rats. The result further affirm the use of the plant as an 1:4. ethno-medicinal prescription for liver related injury. Keywords: Acetaminophen, hepatoprotective, Thaumatococcus daniellii, liver injury. eSciPub LLC, Houston, TX USA. Abbreviations Used: Website: http://escipub.com/ ALT = Alanine aminotransaminase or serum glutamic pyruvic trans- aminase, AST = Aspartate aminotransaminase or serum glutamic ox- aloacetic transaminase, ALP = alkaline phosphatase Http://escipub.com/international-journal-of-bioscience-and-medicine/ 0001 Ukwubile CA et al., IJBM, 2017; 1:4 from the lowest node. The fruit is freshly trigonal Introduction in shape and matures to dark red-brown colour The liver has multiple functions. It makes many when fully ripe. At maturity each fruit contains of the chemicals required by the body to func- three black, extremely hard seeds. The seeds tion normally, it breaks down and detoxifies sub- are enveloped by sticky thin, pale yellow basal stances in the body, and it also acts as a storage aril, which contains the sweetening protein - unit. When the liver is damaged from injuries, thaumatin [7]. medication, alcohol, or other factors, the individ- ual with this problem may have symptoms of liver In West Africa, T. daniellii leaves are mostly cul- disease such as: nausea and vomiting, jaundice tivated for the leaves. The lamina of the leaves (yellowing of the skin), fatigue, weakness, short- is used for wrapping foods especially ‘’Agidi’’ in ness of breath, excessive bruising or bleeding, Eastern Nigeria. The petiole is used to weave and leg swelling. Liver injury has become one of mats and as tools for building materials. The the major causes of morbidity all over the world. entire leaf is also used for roofing. In traditional Drug-induced liver injury (DILC) is one of the medicine the leaf sap is used as antidote against venom, stings and bites. Leaf and sap are used most common causative factors that pose major [8] clinical and regulatory challenges [1]. The man- as sedative and for treating insanity . ifestation of drug-induced hepatoxicity is highly In Nigeria, the fruits are used as sweetener. variable, ranging from asymptomatic elevation of The aril of flowers contain a non-toxic intense- [2] liver enzyme to fulminant hepatic failure . ly sweet protein compound thaumatin, which is Acetaminophen popularly known as Paracetamol at least 3000 times as sweet as sucrose. Since (PCM), taken in overdose can cause severe the mid-1990’s, thaumatin is used as sweetener liver injury and nephrotoxicity [3]. PCM is active and flavor enhancer by the food and confection- and converted by cytochrome P450 enzymes ary industry. Substituting synthetic sweetener, Thaumatin is not a carbohydrate thus, it is an to toxic metabolites NAPQI (N- acetyl-p- [9] benzoquinoneimine) that causes oxidative ideal sweetener for diabetics . The fruit is used as a laxative and the seed as an emetic and for stress and glutathione (GSH) depletion, and [10] it is normally produced only in small amounts, pulmonary problems . This present study was and then almost immediately detoxified in the carried out in order to evaluate the hepatopro- liver. Regardless of the tremendous advances in tective effects of T. daniellii leaf methanol extract modern medicine, there are hardly any reliable against acetaminophen-induced liver injury in drugs that protect the liver form damaged or help Swiss albino rats. in regeneration of hepatic cell. Materials and methods Many active plant extracts are frequently utilized Materials to treat a wide variety of clinical disease involving liver disease [4]. Hence, searching for effective and 25 Swiss albino rats of both sexes, T. daniellii safe drugs for liver injuries have gained popularity powder leaf, plain tubes, normal saline, Whatman by researchers in the field of Pharmacognosy No 1 filter paper 9 cm wide, weighing balance, and ethnobiology as well as other related fields reflotron plus machine (Roche), centrifuge, bovine in recent times. Thaumatococcus daniellii is a albumin, methanol, sucrose solution, Silymarin member of the family Marantaceae is formerly USP, acetaminophen, Soxhlet apparatus, muslin called Donas daniellii (Benn). cloth, rotary evaporator, desiccator, etc. In Nigeria, it is locally called ‘’Iwee’’ in Igala Plant collection, identification and prepara- language. It exhibits contraceptive, hypoglycaemic tion activity [5], cardio-protective effects and anti- bacterial activity [6]. It is a rhizomatous perennial Thaumatococcus daniellii plant was collected herb up to 3.5 m high. The ovate-elliptic leaves from Mbamnga ward, Sardauna Local Govern- up to 60 cm long and 40 cm wide arise singly ment Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. The plant was from each node of the rhizome. Inflorescences identified by a taxonomist in the Department of are single or simply branched spikes and emerge Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Poly- Http://escipub.com/international-journal-of-bioscience-and-medicine/ 0002 Ukwubile CA et al., IJBM, 2017; 1:4 technic Bali, where a voucher number MAR001 500 mg acetaminophen as positive control group was deposited for the plant. The leaves were air- dried under shade and good ventilation for two Group III: received 500 mg acetaminophen + weeks. They were then grind into fine powder TDE 50 mg/kg body weight using an electronic blender and weighed on an Group IV: received 500 mg acetaminophen + electronic balance. The powdered leaves were TDE 100 mg/kg body weight then extracted in 800 mL of methanol (analytical grade) using Soxhlet apparatus for 12 hours, and Group V: received 500 mg acetaminophen + filtered by vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC). TDE 400 mg/kg body weight After this, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo using rotary evaporator to get a dark paste-like After four weeks of the experiment, the animals extract. This was then weighed to get the final were sacrificed under ether anesthesia 24 hours yield and stored in the desiccator for further use. after the last dose. Blood was collected by cardi- ac puncture in plain tubes and liver was removed, Experimental design rinsed in cold normal saline, blotted with filter pa- per and weighted. 10 % (w/v) liver homogenate Twenty five well fed albino rats were randomly was prepared in 0.25M sucrose solution, and grouped into five groups of five animals each. centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min at 4 oC. The animals were allowed to acclimatize with laboratory condition for 24 hours prior to treat- The supernatant was used for various biochem- ment orally. The animals were kept in polypropyl- ical assays relating to liver problems and heal- ene cages and maintained at 25 ± 5 oC under 12 ing such as aspartate aminotransferase (APT), h light/dark cycles. The animals were provided alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phos- with water ad libitum. All the experimental pro- phatase (ALP), bilirubin, etc., while protein con- cedures were carried out in accordance with the centration was estimated using bovine serum guidelines of the National Institute of Health. The albumin (BSA) as a standard. The experiments rats were observed daily for any signs of mortal- were repeated for each group three times and ity. Body weights of each group were recorded mean values were recorded. at regular intervals throughout the experimental periods [11]. Statistical analysis Extract preparation for experiment Data obtained were expressed as mean