EFFECT OF METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF Chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri Linn.) ON CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN WISTAR STRAIN RATS

Ali Abdullahi Damasak^1*, Maryam Ado Mahmud³, Hadiza Musa², Bintu Babagana²

ABSTRACT

This research aims to investigate the effect of methanol leaves extract of Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (Chanca piedra) on CCl₄-induced liver damage in Wistar strain rats. The sample was collected from Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Phytochemical analysis, acute toxicity studies and evaluation of the liver marker enzymes were all conducted on the extract using standard laboratory techniques. The quantitative phytochemical analysis showed that the extract contained alkaloids, tannins, flavanoids, cyanogenic glycosides and phenols at 13.60±0.06 (%), 1917.3±23.36 mg/100 g, 0.5400±0.00 mg quo/g, 3242.0±0.58 mg/100 g and 1.520±0.06 mgGAE/ml, respectively. The acute toxicity study showed that no mortality was recorded at various doses of the methanol leaf extract up to a maximum dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight of rats. A significant increase in aspartate  aminotransferase (AST), 83.17±3.87 IU/L, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 67.67±9.15IU/L and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 79.83±9.17IU/L activities were observed upon treatment with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) compared to rats in normal control group, which indicates liver injury. However, treatment with various doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of the methanol leaf extract of Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (Chanca piedra) caused a significant decreased in aspartate transaminase (AST) 33.17±5.36 IU/L, alanine transaminase (ALT) 42.17±3.81 IU/L and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity 69.30±7.60IU/L, respectively as compared to rats in positive control groups (34.33±10.12, 39.00±0.00, 64.87±6.41 IU/L, respectively). Furthermore, a significant difference (p˂0.05) existed among the groups. As a result, the methanol leaves extract of Phyllanthus niruri Linn. demonstrated ameliorating effect of liver damage caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄).

 Keywords: Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (Chanca piedra), liver injury, CCl_4, acute toxicity.