EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OFVERNONIA AMYGDALINALEAVES ON SERUM TOTAL PROTEIN, ALBUMIN, AND GLOBULIN LEVELS IN CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The liver is essential for the synthesis of serum proteins, including total protein, albumin, and globulin, which regulate osmotic balance, transport, and immune defense. Hepatotoxic compounds such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) impair this function by generating free radicals that trigger lipid peroxidation and hepatocellular damage. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of an aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) on serum protein levels in CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in albino Wistar rats. The objectives were to examine the toxic effect of CCl₄, assess the protective role of V. amygdalina extract, and compare its efficacy with Vitamin C. Fresh V. amygdalina leaves were air-dried, pulverized, and subjected to aqueous extraction. Twenty-five rats were divided into five groups: normal control, CCl₄-induced negative control, positive control (CCl₄ + Vitamin C), and two test groups treated with CCl₄ and V. amygdalina extract (5.14 mg/kg body weight). Treatments were administered orally for 28 days. Biochemical analysis revealed that CCl₄ significantly reduced serum total protein and albumin levels, confirming hepatotoxicity. Conversely, V. amygdalina extract restored these parameters in a dose-dependent manner, producing values comparable to those in the Vitamin C-treated group. This hepatoprotective action may be linked to the extract’s phytochemicalsparticularly flavonoids and phenolic compoundswhich possess antioxidant properties that scavenge free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and support hepatocyte regeneration. In conclusion, Vernonia amygdalina effectively mitigated CCl₄-induced hepatic injury, validating its traditional medicinal use and highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic for liver disorders.
Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina, hepatotoxicity, carbon tetrachloride, serum protein, oxidative stress
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