Protective Potentials of Vernonia amygdalina Leaf Extracts on Cadmium-Induced Hepatic Damage

Abstract

 The protective potentials of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) leaf extracts on cadmium-induced hepatic damage
were investigated. Thirty five (35) female Wistar rats were completely randomized into 7 groups (A-G) of 5 rats
each. Group A received 0.5 ml distilled water only; group B received 10 mg/kg body weight CdCl2; group C received
the standard drug, silymarin; groups D and E received 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight of leaf extract of V.
amygdalina (LEVA) respectively; while groups F and G received 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight of squeezed leaf
extract V. amygdalina (SLEVA) respectively. The animals in groups C-G were orally administered 10 mg/kg body
weight CdCl2 3 hours after the oral administration of silymarin or the extract for 10 days. There was a significant
reduction (p<0.05) in the serum total protein and albumin concentrations in the animals intoxicated with cadmium
when compared to the normal control group with the pre-administration of silymarin or Vernonia amygdalina leaf
extracts. There were also significant reduction (p<0.05) in the superoxide dismutase activity and reduced glutathione
concentrations in the liver of intoxicated rats. The catalase activity and malondialdehyde concentrations in the liver
of the intoxicated untreated rats were however, significantly increased (p<0.05) compared to the normal control
group and the extract-treated groups. The results suggest that the processed Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract
exhibited protective potentials against liver damage with the SLEVA having the highest potentials. This might be
due to the antioxidant properties contained in the extract. It can therefore be concluded from the above results that
processed Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract have protective effect against cadmium- induced hepatic damage in
female albino rats.