Effect of Alcornea cordifolia Aqueous and Methanolic Leaf Extracts against Antituberculosis Drugs Induced Liver Damage in Rats

The hepatoprotective properties of Alchornea cordifolia, a medicinal plant was studied in hepatotoxicity induced animal model with a high dose of paracetamol or carbon tetrachloride. Knowing that antituberculosis drugs also represent a risk factor for hepatotoxicity, could A. cordifolia play a key role to limit their hepatotoxicity? The objective of this study was to assess the histological changes of antituberculosis drugs in rat livers and their evolution after administration of an aqueous and a methanolic leaf extracts of A. cordifolia and therefore estimate their polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Rats were divided into three (3) groups: group 1 was treated with isoniazid; group 2 received the combination of isoniazid and rifampicin and group 3 was given the combination of isoniazid, rifampicin and pyraziamide. For each group of rats, the hepatotoxicant was either administered alone or two hours before administration of an aqueous (200, 400, or 800 mg/kg) or a methanolic (200, 400, or 800 mg/kg) leaf extracts of A. cordifolia each day for 10 days. Animals were sacrificed on day 11 and their livers removed for histolopathological analysis. In addition, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were estimated in both extracts. Antituberculosis drug combinations caused peliosis lesions, steatosis and hepatocyte necrosis. The liver histology of rats that received extracts after administration of antituberculosis drug combinations showed the ability of extracts to annihilate or alleviate hepatocellular damage caused by such drugs. The methanolic extract, richer in total polyphenols (0.55 ± 0.02 mg EGA) than the aqueous extract (0.35 ± 0.01 mg EGA) demonstrated a greater hepatoprotective effect. Thus, according to liver histological analysis, the aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of A. cordifolia could attenuate the hepatotoxicity induced by antituberculosis drugs in rats.