Background: A large number of herbal medicines are widely in-use to offer relief from hepatic injury,
although attempts are still ongoing globally to get scientific proofs for these orthodox remedies, there is
still paucity of data on Russelia equisetiformes. There are solitary reports of anti-inflammatory, analgesic,
and antinociceptive properties. Meanwhile, inflammation is a hallmark of hepatic injury. Further study may
pave way for next generation hepatoprotective medication.
Methods: The experimental animals were grouped into five (5), with six animals each. Groups 3, 4 and 5
were orally pretreated with the extracts for 7 days at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, while groups 1 and
2 served as normal (negative) and paracetamol-induced (PCM-induced;positive) controls. Liver damage
was induced on the 8th day using 2000 mg/kg of paracetamol. Liver enzymes such as alanine amino
transaminase (ALT) aspartate amino transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), along with other
liver function tests [plasma total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and bilirubin (BIL)] were subsequently
estimated. Liver samples were examined for histopathological changes.
Results: Comparison of case groups with positive controls shows that levels of biomarkers such as AST,
ALT, ALP were significantly reduced (p<0.05) at a dose of 400mg/kg of the extract. Serum proteins were
also significantly elevated (p<0.05). Histologically, there were significant changes in the hepatic cellular
architecture of the PCM-induced group compared with extract-treated groups.
Conclusion: The results obtained from this study show that Russelia equisetiformes may offer
hepatoprotective influence against any liver damage as a result of drug toxicity.
Keywords: Hepatoprotective Influence; Histopathological Changes; Liver Function Tests; Paracetamol;
Plant-Extract; Russelia equisetiformes.
