EFFECTS OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF DIOSPYROS MESPILIFORMIS ON AST IN PARACETAMOL-INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

ABSTRACT Paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose is a leading cause of drug-induced liver injury, characterized by oxidative stress, necrosis, and elevated serum liver enzymes. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of the methanolic extract against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats, with silymarin as the standard control. A total of 28 rats were randomly assigned into seven groups four in each group. Group A served as the normal control and received only distilled water. Group B was administered 4500 mg/kg of paracetamol every 72 hours for 14 days to induce hepatotoxicity. Groups C–F received 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg of the methanolic extract once daily, in addition to 4500 mg/kg of paracetamol. Group G was treated with 100 mg/kg of silymarin alongside paracetamol. The rats were decapitated on the 14th day and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were assessed as biomarkers of hepatocellular damage. Rats in the paracetamol-only group (B: 239.33 ± 0.33 IU/L) showed a marked elevation in AST compared with the normal control (A: 216.00 ± 0.58 IU/L), confirming successful induction of hepatotoxicity. The lowest extract dose (50 mg/kg; C: 274.67 ± 0.33 IU/L) resulted in further elevation, suggesting insufficient protection. However, higher extract doses produced significant improvements. Groups D (100 mg/kg) and E (150 mg/kg) showed AST reductions to 191.00 ± 0.58 and 139.33 ± 0.33 IU/L, respectively. The most effective protection was observed in Group F (200 mg/kg; 124.67 ± 1.45 IU/L), which produced values comparable to silymarin (G: 134.00 ± 0.58 IU/L).These findings demonstrate that the methanolic extract exerts dose-dependent hepatoprotective effects against paracetamol-induced liver injury. At higher doses, the extract significantly lowered AST levels, with efficacy superior to that of silymarin. The protective effect may be attributed to bioactive phytochemicals with antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing properties. This highlights the potential of the methanolic extract as a natural hepatoprotective agent. Further studies including histopathology and mechanistic assays are recommended to substantiate its clinical relevance.