Hepatoprotective Potency of Ethanolic Extract of Garcinia kola (Heckel) Seed against Acute Ethanol-induced Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats

Aim: Hepatoprotective potency of ethanolic extract of Garcinia kola (Heckel) seed against acute ethanol-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: G. kola seeds were purchased from a local market in Ibadan, Nigeria. The seeds were chopped to smaller pieces after the outer coats were removed. They were air-dried and finally ground to fine powder using a blender. The powder was extracted using ethanol. 20 adult Wistar rats with body weight between 150 and 180 g were used for this study. They were acclimatized for 7 days during which they were fed ad libitum with standard feed and drinking water. They were randomly divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each. Animals in groups 1 and 2 were administered normal saline solution while those in groups 3 and 4 were administered G. kola extract for 28 days. The animals were administered the extract and saline solution at a dose of 4 mL per 100 g body weight 12 hourly via oral route. At the end of the treatment, they were fasted overnight and animals in groups 2 and 4 were exposed to a single dose of 70% ethanol at 12 mL/kg body weight to induce oxidative stress. After 12 hours of ethanol administration, the animals were anaesthetized using diethyl ether and were sacrificed. Biochemical parameters were determined using standard methods.

Results: Ethanol-induced oxidative stress significantly increased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) but decreased reduced glutathione (GSH). These effects were regulated by G. kola administration due to its phytochemical content and antioxidant potential.

Conclusion: Results from this present study have shown that G. kola possesses hepatoprotective potency against ethanol-induced oxidative stress.