Assessment of the hepatoprotective activity of the seeds of Hunteria umbellata (Hallier F.) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced liver damage in Wistar albino rats

This study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the seeds of Hunteria umbellata (HU) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced rats. Rats of groups 1 (normal control), 3 and 5 were not treated with CCl₄ while rats of groups 2 (negative control), 4 and 6 rats were treated with single dose of CCl₄ (2 ml/kg) by intraperitoneal administration. Normal control group 1 rats were given distilled water, groups 3 and 4 rats were given 50 mg/kg of silymarin while groups 5 and 6 rats were given 500 mg/kg of HU. Treatment was administered orally for 28 days and sacrificed on the 29th day after an overnight fast. The weights of the rats were taken before and after the treatment. Blood samples were collected in heparinized tubes and biochemical analysis of liver functions and lipid profile tests were carried out on plasma. There was a significant change (p<0.05) in the levels of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, high density lipoprotein and triglycerides of the CCl₄ induced group treated with HU compared to the CCl₄ untreated group 2 animals. The results obtained showed that the ethanolic extract of HU has hepatoprotective property.