Hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant effects of Byrsocarpus coccineus Schum. and Thonn. (Connaraceae)

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The leaf decoction of Byrsocarpus coccineus (Connaraceae) is drunk for the treatment of jaundice in West African traditional medicine. Aim of the study: To investigate the hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant effects of Byrsocarpus coccineus in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and methods: Group allotment in this study included vehicle, CCl4, Byrsocarpus coccineus 1000 mg/kg alone. Byrsocarpus coccineus 200, 400, and 1000 mg/kg + CCl4 and Livolin (R) 20 mg/kg + CCl4, and treatment was carried out accordingly. On the 7th day, rats were sacrificed and blood was withdrawn by cardiac puncture. The levels and activities of serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes were then assayed using standard procedures. Results: CCl4 significantly (P<0.05) increased the levels of ALT and AST and reduced total protein. In CCl4 treated animals. Byrsocarpus coccineus (200, 400, and 1000 mg/kg) dose-dependently and significantly decreased ALT, AST and ALP levels with peak effect produced at the highest dose. Conversely, Byrsocarpus coccineus produced significant increases in albumin and total protein levels. The standard drug produced significant effects in respect of ALT (down arrow), albumin (up arrow), and total protein (up arrow). CCl4 also produced significant (P<0.05) reductions in the activity of catalase, SOD, peroxidase and GSH, and conversely increased MDA level. Byrsocarpus coccineus produced significant and dose-dependent reversal of CCl4-diminished activity of the antioxidant enzymes and reduced CCl4-elevated level of MDA. The standard drug also significantly increased CCl4-diminished antioxidant enzymes activity and reduced CCl4-elevated MDA level. In general, the effects of the standard drug were comparable and not significantly different from those of Byrsocarpus coccineus. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that the aqueous leaf extract of Byrsocarpus coccineus possesses hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant effects. This finding justifies the use of this preparation in West African traditional medicine for the treatment of liver disease. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.