Hepatoprotective Activity of the Methanolic Extract of the Bark of Khaya senegalensis in Rats against Paracetamol - Induced Hepatotoxicity

Purpose: This study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of the methanolic extract of the bark of Sudanese plant Khaya senegalensis, which used in folk medicine for treatment of jaundice. The hepatoprotective effect was tested in rats against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. Method:The methanolic extracts of the bark of Khaya senegalensis showed hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol [1&2g/kg (P.O)]- induced hepatotoxicity given one hour after injection of extract, which was evidenced by significant decrease in elevated serum of ALT and AST. Result:The methanolic extract of the bark of Khaya senegalensis possessed strong hepatoprotective effect, so we selected it for further biological activity -directed fractionation study. Dichloromethane and petroleum ether extracts against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity, didn’t possess hepatoprotective effect as evidenced by failure to decrease ALT and AST. Chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant hepatoprotective effect against toxicity induced by paracetamol as evidenced by significant decrease of ALT and AST. Aqueous methanolic extract of the bark of Khaya senegalensis showed hepatoprotective effect against toxicity induced by paracetamol as evidence by significant decrease in ALT and AST activity. Conclusion: Result obtained from this experiment indicated that methanolic extract showed hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol (1&2g/kg (P.O) induced hepatotoxicity by decreasing the level of ALT, AST and cholesterol. The mild histopathological lesions revealed less damage in the groups treated with methanolic and chloroform extracts of the bark of Khaya senegalensis than the paracetamol groups, which indicated some protective effect.