Chemo-therapeutic Potential of Dialium guineense (wild) Leaf Extract on Dumpsite Leachate Induced Hepatoxicity of Wistar Rats

Aims: To investigate the chemo-therapeutic potential of Dailum guineense leaf extract on dumpsite leachate induced hepatoxicity of Wistar rats.

Study Design: A Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Animal and Environmental Biology (Animal Unit) and Department of Life Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria, between January 2016 and July 2017.

Methodology: A total of 20 wistar rats were acclimatized for two weeks and randomly distributed into four groups A to E, and were administered 2ml each different treatment protocol once every 48 hours for 30days.After the exposure period, the surviving rats were examined and sacrificed. Blood and organs were collected for analysis. After which the clinical biochemistry, tissue histology and the expression of some hepatic pro-inflammatory genes were examined.

Results: The concentration of heavy metals and anions in the test samples were above standard permissible limits. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, tannin, saponin, phlorotannins, steroids, and flavonoid except for cardiac glycoside was absent in both leaf extract. The concentration of heavy metals and anions in the test samples were above standard permissible limits. Biochemical analysis showed that leachate administration in Wistar rats caused an increase in glucose 24.15%, albumin 32.73% with a decrease in alkaline phosphatase 63.91% and glucose 13.96%. Histopathological investigations indicated that the leachate provoked alterations in the liver tissue; which include mild infiltration vascular congestion, patchy vascular ulceration and a mild periportal filtrates of inflammatory cells. An increased expression of CCL11 mRNA, TGF-α mRNA, and IL-4 in hepatic tissues as a result of leachate administration was observed. However, the administration of Dialium guineense leaf extract with the leachate prevented tissue damage in the Wistar rat to varying degree

Conclusion: The findings of the present study have shown the potentials of Ikhueniro dumpsite leachate to induce tissue and genetic dysfunction probably via direct and/or indirect chemical disruption of the blood. However, Dialium guineense protected the liver against dumpsite leachate by reducing the effect of the leachate on the liver.