Project Abstract

Abstract
The liver is a vital organ responsible for numerous physiological functions, including detoxification and metabolism. Hepatotoxicity induced by chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) poses a significant threat to liver health. Herbal medicines have gained attention for their potential hepatoprotective effects. Senna tora, a widely used traditional medicinal plant, has been investigated for its pharmacological properties, including hepatoprotective effects. This study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of Senna tora leaf extract on CCl4-induced liver toxicity in experimental animal models. Rats were divided into four groups control, CCl4-treated, Senna tora leaf extract (STLE)-treated, and STLE plus CCl4-treated groups. The CCl4-treated group exhibited significant liver damage, as evidenced by elevated serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST) and histopathological changes. However, the STLE-treated group showed a significant reduction in liver enzyme levels and improvement in liver histology compared to the CCl4-treated group. Moreover, the STLE plus CCl4-treated group demonstrated a further reduction in liver enzyme levels and amelioration of liver damage compared to the CCl4-treated group. The hepatoprotective effects of Senna tora leaf extract may be attributed to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and membrane-stabilizing properties. The extract's antioxidant components such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and tannins may scavenge free radicals generated by CCl4, thereby reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in the liver. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effects of the extract may inhibit inflammatory mediators involved in liver injury. Furthermore, the membrane-stabilizing properties of Senna tora leaf extract may help maintain the structural integrity of liver cell membranes, preventing leakage of liver enzymes. In conclusion, Senna tora leaf extract demonstrated significant hepatoprotective effects against CCl4-induced liver toxicity in rats. The extract alleviated liver damage by reducing serum liver enzymes and improving liver histology. These findings highlight the potential of Senna tora as a natural hepatoprotective agent. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and assess the extract's safety and efficacy for clinical use in liver disorders.

Project Overview

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Many of the developing countries including African countries like Nigeria practice traditional medicine as its main source of health care. This traditional medicine is normally gotten from plant origin [Rehan Ahmad et al, 2008, Stephen bent, 2008].Today nearly 88 percent of the global populations switch to plant derived medicines as their first line of defence for maintaining health and combating diseases [Kintzios et al,2006]. Presently there are about 60 types of medicinal plants that have been recognised in primary health care and are classified according to their pharmacological actions such as peptic ulcers, anti flatulence, laxative, antidiarrhoeal and anti hepatic [Viomolos et al,2003]. However in future the discovery of novel therapeutic agents will be only dependent on plant origin [Perumalsamy et al, 1999].

Senna tora is an example of traditional medicine with pharmacological actions as anticholesterolemic, antispasmodic, carninitative, emollients, ophthalmic and purgative [Polunin and Stainton,1984,Yeung,1985,Manandhar, 2002]. It can be cardiotonic, antiperiodic, anthelmintic and expectorant and can also be used in treating cough,leprosy ,ringworm ,colic,flatulence, constipation and other disorders[Natureserve,2007]. Senna tora formally regarded as cassia tora is capable of suppressing the production of prostaglandins and other inflammatory agonists such as cytokines, histamine, kinin and free radical.manila,1998 buttressed his observations confirming its use in the treatment of constipation, edema and liver protection in Korea.

Liver, the largest internal organ of the human body performs more than five hundred functions, all of which are very vital to life. The liver can regenerate or grow back cells that have been destroyed by short term injury or disease, but if the liver is damaged repeatedly over a long period of time, it may undergo irreversible changes which permanently interferes with its function.

Carbon tetrachloride is a toxic substance that interrupts the liver and its functions. This is to say that it damages the liver when ingested.CCL4 is stable in the presence of air and light, it is also inflammable. Despite its toxic effect on the liver, it is useful as grain fumigant ,pesticide etc. Equilibrium of the body fluids and secretions are altered as a result of carbon tetrachloride. For instance lipid metabolism, cholesterol metabolism and biotransformation functions of the liver are terminated or altered in the presence of CCL4.Thus carbon tetrachloride is lethal. The liver produces some enzyme such as aspartate amino transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase,gamma glutamyl transferase etc which catalyses the biochemical activities of the body, and on the attack of CCL4 to the liver ,these enzymes will not be produced.

Free radicals are highly reactive compounds with uneven number of electrons in their outermost orbit. This can react with cellular compounds like unsaturated fatty acids and can generate new free radicals which result in irreversible biochemical injury like membrane damage, apotosis and cell necrosis. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and stop the subsequent reactions hence protecting the macromolecules and cellular environment from toxicity and degeneration [Hong B.O. Shao et al, 2008].The oxygen consumption inherent in cell growth leads to the generation of series of reactive oxygen species [ROS].The ROS are molecules such as superoxide anion radicals and hydroxyl radicals[OH]. ROS may be very damaging attacking the lipids of cell membrane and DNA mutation which may further propagate the propagation of many diseases[Valontao et al 2002,Gulcin et al 2003]. Reactive oxygen species are continuously produced during normal Physiological events and are removed by antioxidants defence mechanism [Buyukokuroglu et al,2001]. Many results have shown that some of the cassia species have acquired antimicrobial substances and antioxidant activities.

1.1 AIMS OF THE RESEARCH

The aim of this research is to find out hepatoprotective effects of senna tora leaf extract on carbon tetrachloride induced toxicity.

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