Evaluation of the antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of the methanolic extract of Acalypha racemosa leaf in carbon tetrachloride-treated rats

The effects of simultaneous treatment of CCl4 with 60 and 120 mg/kg body weight of methanolic extract of Acalypha racemosa on rat liver were evaluated. Analysis of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities with those of the concentrations of albumin, total protein, unconjugated and total bilirubin was carried out. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content of liver was determined to investigate a probable mechanism of action of the extract. Histopathological studies were carried out to confirm the observed changes. Administration of CCl4 alone to rats significantly increased total bilirubin concentration and the activities of ALT and AST (p<0.05) in the serum while it significantly reduced (p<0.05) serum total protein and albumin concentrations when compared with controls. Also, it significantly increased (p<0.05) liver MDA content when compared to control. However, simultaneous administration of CCl4 with 60 and 120 mg/kg of the methanolic extract significantly (p<0.05) reversed these changes. Since both doses of the methanolic extract of A. racemosa were able to significantly reduce liver MDA content, it thus suggests that a probable mechanism of action of the extract is antioxidation.