Protective Effects of Mitragyna inermis Roots Methanol Extract on Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Injuries in Wistar Rats

Abubakar Abdulhamid, Angela Nnenna Ukwuani-Kwaja, Zayyanu Besse Umar, Abdulhamid Zubairu, Ibrahim Sani and Isah Musa Fakai

Background and Objective: Since pre-historical times, plant materials have widely been used for the treatment of different diseases including liver diseases. This research was aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Mitragyna inermis root methanol extract in paracetamol-induced liver damage in Albino rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six Wistar Albino rats (weighing 170-200 g) were randomly divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1, 2 and 3 served as normal (10 mL kg^–1 b.wt., distilled water), disease control (600 mg kg^–1 b.wt., paracetamol) and positive controls (100 mg kg^–1 b.wt., silymarin), respectively. Group 4, 5 and 6 received 100, 200 and 300 mg kg^–1 b.wt., of the methanolic root extract of Mitragyna inermis, respectively for 14 days. Following 14 days of treatment, all the animals were anaesthetized with chloroform, sacrificed and blood collected for biochemical analysis. Results: The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) was estimated to be >3000 mg kg^–1. In the hepatoprotective (14 days) study, the paracetamol treated rats (disease control group) developed hepatotoxicity evident from the elevated levels of serum ALT, AST, ALP, TB and DB and the decreased levels of antioxidant parameters vitamin A and E, GSH, SOD, CAT and GPx when compared with the normal control group. However, treatment with the methanol root extract Mitragyna inermis showed a significant (p<0.05) improvement in these parameters against disease control and almost comparable to normal and standard control groups. Conclusion: Therefore, the methanol root extract of Mitragyna inermis possess hepatoprotective activity due to the identified phytochemicals and antioxidant potentials.

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