Protective Effect of Alchornea laxiflora Methanolic Leaf Extract on CCL4-induced Hepatotoxicity and Reproductive Toxicity in Male Wistar Rats

Background: Alchornea laxiflora is a medicinal plant with immense health benefits.

Aim: To verify the protective effects of methanol extract of Alchornea laxiflora (MEAL) leaf on hepatotoxicity and reproductive toxicity induced by CCl4.

Settings and Design: Extraction and administration of Bioactive extract.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Ondo State, P.M.B 536. Between November 2015 - July 2016.

Materials and Methods: Thirty five Albino Wistar rats were randomized into seven groups of five animals each, group 1 animals which served as positive control, received normal saline, group 2 animals which served as negative control, received 1 ml/kg body weight of CCl4 only for a day while groups 3-7 received 0.1, 0.5, 1.0,10.0 and 50 mg/kg body weight of methanol extract Alchornea laxiflora (MEAL) leaf respectively for seven days after receiving a single dosage CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight) for a day. Activities of Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were assayed to verify the effects of the plant extract on the liver while percentage sperm motility and sperm morphology was assayed to check the effects of the plant extract on reproductive system/organs.

Statistical Analysis: The data were analysed by SPSS (version 2.1).

Result and Conclusion: Graded dosage (0.1-50 mg/kg bodyweight) of methanol extract of Alchornea laxiflora leaf significantly (p≤0.05) reversed the toxic effects of CCl4 on the liver and reproductive organs of wistar rats in a dose dependent manner as compared to group 2 animals. This may be due to the secondary metabolites content of Alchornea laxiflora, which have been shown to have profound antioxidant potentials. It could be deduced that Alchornea laxiflora leaf extract can reverse hepatotoxicity and reproductive toxicity and by extension cure infertility in rats.