Evaluation of the Hepatoprotective Activity of Vernonia amygdalina Leaf Extract Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage in Rats

Vernonia amygdalina, popularly called bitter leaf, is among the most widely utilised medicinal plants in Nigeria, employed across the South East, South West, and North Central zones for the treatment of liver disorders, typhoid fever, and malaria. This study evaluates the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Animals were pre-treated with extracts at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg for seven days prior to a single intraperitoneal administration of CCl4 (1 mL/kg in olive oil). Silymarin (100 mg/kg) served as the standard hepatoprotective drug. Liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured spectrophotometrically. Total bilirubin, total protein, and albumin levels were also assessed. Histopathological examination of liver sections was conducted using haematoxylin and eosin staining. CCl4 administration significantly elevated liver enzyme levels and produced centrilobular necrosis. Pre-treatment with Vernonia amygdalina extracts significantly attenuated enzyme elevations and histopathological damage in a dose-dependent manner. The 400 mg/kg ethanolic extract group showed outcomes comparable to silymarin. These results support the ethnomedicinal use of Vernonia amygdalina for liver conditions and justify further mechanistic pharmacological studies. Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina, hepatoprotective, carbon tetrachloride, liver enzymes, hepatotoxicity