Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

Aim: This study investigated the possible alterations in the serum liver damage markers and the hepatic histomorphology of alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with methanol root bark extract of Cussonia arborea at varying doses.

Methodology: A total of Seventy two (72) male albino wistar rats weighing between 100-105 g were assigned into six groups of 12 rats per group. Groups 1- 5 rats were made diabetic as by single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate at the dose of 160 mg/kg and treated with 62.5, 125, 250 mg/kg bw of the extracts, 2 mg/kg bw Glibenclamide and 10 ml/kg DW respectively while the non diabetic group 6 rats received 10 ml/kg DW as serve as normal control rats. The treatment was daily through the oral route for 84 days. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein (TP) and albumin were measured on days 42, 56 and 84 post treatment. At the end of the experiment, the rats were humanly sacrificed and their liver harvested for histomorphometric assessment. 

Results: Administration of 125 mg/kg bw of the extract, significantly (p<0.05) reduced the activities of AST, ALT but significantly (p<0.05) increased the levels of total protein, and equally ameliorated histopathological lesions in the liver when compared to the diabetic untreated group (negative control).

Conclusion: It was concluded that the methanol extract of C. arborea, at the dose of 125 mg/kg was strongly protective against liver damages occasioned by diabetes.