THE HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ALSTONIA MACROPHYLLA G. DON (APOCYNACEAE) AGAINST PARACETAMOL-INDUCED LIVER TOXICITY

Catherine Faith M. Romano*, Librado A. Santiago

To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of crude ethanolic leaf extract of Alstonia macrophylla G. Don in Paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague Dawley rats. Hepatotoxicity was established by induction of Paracetamol 500mg/kg leading to elevated liver markers, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine phosphatase (ALP), and decreased Albumin levels. Single dose administration with Alstonia macrophylla crude extract (AmCE) on a 7-day duration treatment, resulted in decreased AST, ALT, and ALP and increased Albumin levels. Specifically the AmCE 600mg/kg resulted to significant effects at (p<0.01). Similarly, depleted levels of Glutathione, and Catalase levels were increased (p<0.003), (p<0.000), respectively. While Malondialdehyde – a measure of lipid peroxidation, was significantly decreased (p<0.000). Among the treatments, AmCE 600mg dose showed comparable effect with the standard drug N-acetylcysteine. This study demonstrated the hepatoprotective activity of the crude ethanolic leaf extract of Alstonia macrophylla.