Amelioration of Chemical Induced Hepatic Injury by Vitex agnus castus ExtractAmelioration of Chemical Induced Hepatic Injury by Vitex agnus castus Extract

Objective: The liver is the major organ of detoxification of ingested materials such as food, beverages and drugs, thus it is prone to toxicity with attendant pathologies. We studied the ability of Vitex agnus castus plant extract to ameliorate the biochemical and structural alterations in Wistar rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury.

Methods: Forty adult male Wistar rats were allotted into eight equal groups. Group1 was normal control (NC); Group 2 Liver injury without extract (LI). The remaining six groups were paired composite group of varying dosage of the plant extract (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg). Only one member of each pair had induced liver injury. Consequently, the groups were Low extract without liver injury (LE), Low extract with liver injury (LEL); Medium extract without liver injury(ME)

Medium extract with liver injury (MEL) and High extract without liver injury (HE),High extract with liver injury (HEL).The biochemical parameters evaluated were the liver function test {Total protein plus globulin and albumen fractions; liver enzymes- alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase}. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring the activities of antioxidants namely; Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx).Histology of the harvested liver specimens was used to assess the structural alterations.

Results: The mean liver weight was highest in the HEL group and significantly different from that of its control (HE) and NC.The mean serum total protein of all the groups were significantly higher than that of the NC.The mean aspartate amino transferase levels of the LEL, ME and MEL groups were significantly lower than that of the control while that of the HEL was significantly higher than those of the LEL and MEL. The results of alanine amino transferase were similar to those of aspartate amino transferase. The alkaline phosphatase levels in all the experimental groups were significantly depressed when compared with the control. Amongst the experimental groups, the serum alkaline phosphatase level was significantly raised than those of the LEL, and MEL groups.

The glutathione (GSH) activities of LE, HE and HEL were significantly lower. While the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity of the control was significantly lower to those of groups LEL, ME, MEL and HEL.Histopathology of the liver showed preservation of the liver architecture with normal hepatocytes in all the groups.

Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of Vitex agnus castus was able to reduce the severity of carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in wistar rats.