Protective effects of neem (<i>Azadirachta indica A. Juss</i>) seed oil on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

• Main Authors: MacDonald Idu (Author), Oghale Ovuakporie-Uvo (Author), Suzan O. Okojie (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: AOSIS, 2017-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Background: Azadirachta indica (neem) seed oil was evaluated for its hepatoprotective effect. Liver damage was induced using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) while silymarin served as a positive control. Aim: This study is aimed at testing the hepatoprotective potentials of A. indica seed oil on Wistar rats. Method: Hepatotoxicity was induced by the administration of 1.0 mL/kg of CCl4 subcutaneously to 72 healthy Wistar rats of both sexes (weight range: 145 g - 315 g). The seed oil of A. indica was orally administered daily in various doses of 0.25 mL/kg, 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg for 14 days. Animal body and organ weights were recorded, while blood and liver tissues were collected for biochemical, haematological and histological analyses. Results: Treatment with neem seed oil lowered the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels significantly (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control. The haematological parameters, organ weight index and animal body weight showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) when compared with the control. Histology assessment was in agreement with the biochemical result as tissues of CCl4 exhibited significant fatty tissue accumulation, as opposed to that of 0.25 mL/kg neem treatment, which showed only moderate accumulation of fatty tissues, while higher doses, 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg, showed a healthy liver as compared with the control. Conclusion: The result of this study revealed that neem seed oil had a dose-dependent hepatoprotective effect on the experimental rats.

Item Description

2519-559X
2616-4809
10.4102/jomped.v1i1.6