Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the leaf extract of Citrullus
lanatus on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in rats.
Methodology: Hepatoprotective study was conducted using five groups (A-E) of six male
rats per group. Groups A and B served as the control groups and were respectively
administered with distilled water and CCl4 in olive oil while groups C, D and E were
administered respectively with 500, 1,000 and 1,500mg/kg body weight of the ethanolic
leaf extract of C. lanatus for 7 days. Animals were subsequently anaesthetized, blood
samples were collected for alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase
(AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, total protein and albumin assays; liver
organ was isolated and processed for biochemical and histopathological studies.
Results: There were significant increases (P=0.05) in the serum levels of ALT and AST
both in the plasma and liver homogenate in the group treated with CCl4 as compared to
negative control group; while in the extract treated group, there was a decrease in the
levels of the aminotransferases. Histopathological studies showed severe portal congestion and necrosis of hepatocytes in the group treated with CCl4 while the groups
administered with the extract treated group showed a moderate venous congestion with
absence of necrosis.
Conclusion: These results highlight the ability of the leaf extract of C. lanatus to
ameliorate damage in the liver of albino rat
