The Potency of Bombax costatum Methanol Stem-bark Extract as a Hepato-curative Agent on Acetominophen Induced Hepato Toxicity in Wistar Albino Rats

Background: The main thrust of the study was investigate the curative potentials of stem bark extract of Bombax costatum in acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in experimental animals.

Methods: Thirty experimental animals (Wistar rats) were grouped into six. Group III is the negative treatment hepato-toxified by sub chronic oral administration of acetaminophen at a dosage of 250 mg/kgbw, Groups IV, V and VI were hepato-toxified as in III and thereafter, followed up with treatment with 70% methanol stem bark extract of Bombax costatum at a dosage of 200, 400 and 600 mg/Kgbw on daily basis for another three weeks (20 days).

Results: There was significant decrease (P≤ 0.05) in both haematological and serum biochemical parameters of induced animals compared to the placebo in the first stanza while a significant increase (P≤ 0.05) was thereafter observed in the haemoglobin (HB), Packed cell volume (PCV), Mean copsucular volume (MCV), Red blood count (RBC) and Total white blood count (TWBC) with a corresponding decrease ((P≤ 0.05) in the platelets count in the treated groups. Similarly, significant decrease (P≤ 0.05) in the serum Aspartate transferase (AST), Alanine transferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Total protein, direct and indirect biluribin and Isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) with a concomitant decrease ((P≤ 0.05) in Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) was also observed in the treated groups compared to the negative control.

Conclusion: The inadequacy of herbs used in curing of liver diseases and other dysfunctions caused by allopathic drugs is enough reason to focus on systematic scientific research to evaluate some species of plants that are traditionally claimed to possess hepato-curative activities.