title: Comparative Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of Cuscuta australis against Acetaminophen Intoxication in Wistar Rats.
abstract: This study investigates the comparative hepatoprotective activity of crude ethanol extracts of Cuscuta australis against acetaminophen (APAP) intoxication. Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into six groups of 6 replicates: Group 1 which served as control received water. Group 2 was orally administered 835 mg/kg body wt. of paracetamol on day 8. Groups 3 and 4 were orally administered ethanolic extracts of the seed of Cuscuta australis in doses of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, respectively, for 7 days and then intoxicated as in Group 2 on the 8th day. Groups 5 and 6 received similar oral doses of Cuscuta australis stem extracts for 7 days and then intoxicated as in Groups 3 and 4. Group 2 rats showed severe periportal hepatic necrosis, significantly elevated serum hepatic injury markers, markedly increased lipid peroxidation, and decreased hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities. Remarkably, Cuscuta australis (seed and stem) extract pretreatments in Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6, most especially, the stem extract pretreatment in Groups 5 and 6, improved better the hepatic histoarchitecture, the hepatocellular, and the oxidative stress injury markers in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusively, ethanol extractions of Cuscuta australis stem appear to protect the liver from acetaminophen intoxication better than the seed counterpart.
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso 4000, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Rachael O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Folarin
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Jos, Jos 930001, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Jamiu O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Omirinde
authors.affiliation: Department of Morbidity and Forensic Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife A234, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bejide
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health, Anatomy & Physiology and Pharmacology, Ibadan 900001, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Tajudeen O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Isola
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health, Anatomy & Physiology and Pharmacology, Ibadan 900001, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Levi I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Usende
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health, Anatomy & Physiology and Pharmacology, Ibadan 900001, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Afisu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basiru