Ameliorative effects of Nigerian recipes on histopathological and immunohistochemical changes of CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in male Wistar rats

Abstract

The effects of methanol extracts of cooked Sphenostylis stenocarpa, Buchholzia coriacea, Chromolaena odorata and Monodora myristica on the collagen deposition of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in hepatic fibrotic male Wistar rats were investigated. Ninety-six adult male rats of weight 120 – 190 g were grouped into twelve (groups A-L) of eight rats each, representing normal control, olive oil, negative control, silymarin, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight of cooked S. stenocarpa, B. coriacea, C. odorata and M. myristicamethanol extracts, respectively. Groups A and B received 1 ml of normal saline and 1 ml of olive oil, respectively, group C received CCl4/olive oil mixture only and group D was treated daily with 100 mg/kg of the standard drug, silymarin, after two weeks of CCl4 administration. Groups E - L were pre-treated with the respective extracts twice a week for four weeks by intubation before intraperitoneal intoxication with 1 ml of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and olive oil (1:1 v/v) mixture per kilogram body weight of the experimental animal and then extract-treatment was continued for another four weeks. Liver specimens were procured, weighed and processed for immunohistochemical studies. Necrosis and collagen deposition were evident in the liver histology of the negative control. Treatment with methanol extracts of the cooked samples, except 250 mg/kg body weight of C. odorata, ameliorated the effect of CCl4. In conclusion, methanol extracts of cooked S. stenocarpa, B. coriacea and M. myristica have anti-fibrotic and hepato-protective potentials against CCl4-induced liver injury in male Wistar rats.