Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Effect of Aqueous Extract of Schrebera swietenioides Bark Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Toxicity in Wistar Rats

The present study was designed to explore the hepatoprotective action of aqueous extract of stem bark of Schrebera swietenioides against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Rats were divided in four groups viz., sham, toxicant control, standard (silymarin, 50 mg/kg, p.o.) and SS extract (100 mg/kg, p.o.) group. Treatment was continued for 7 days. On the 7th day, CCl₄ was injected intraperitoneally (0.5 ml/kg in olive oil) to every animal except sham animals. On the 8th day, blood was withdrawn, serum was separated and analysis of liver function tests such as AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin were performed. Rats were sacrificed and liver was isolated from each rat. Part of the liver was homogenized and used for determination of antioxidant parameters, namely catalase, SOD, GSH, GST, total thiols and lipid peroxidation. Remaining part were subjected to histopathology. The Schrebera swietenioides extract treatment showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the levels of AST, ALT and total bilirubin levels and significant rise in catalase, SOD and GSH levels compared to the toxicant control group. Histopathological investigation supported the hepatoptotective potential of Schrebera swietenioides extract by minimizing fatty accumulation and necrosis events in the liver architecture compared to the toxicant control group. These results identify the ability of extract to be a potent hepatoptotective agent which were comparable to silymarin.