Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Effects of Aqueous Extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria (Apocynaceae) Stem Bark in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Rauwolfia vomitoria is used in Cameroon in indigenous medicine to treat liver diseases. The present study was carried out on the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of the plant aqueous extract. Liver toxicity was induced by oral route administration of CCl4 two times per week for four weeks. Rats were given concomitantly by oral route, aqueous extract at the doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg or silymarin four days a week for four weeks. By the end, bloods were collected for liver functional parameters analyses. Liver tissues were removed, to assess to oxidative stress parameters and histological analyses. The extract (300 mg/kg) decreased enzyme activity of ALT, AST and the level of TG with the percentage 54.23%, 49.63% and 28.74% respectively while it increased the enzyme activity of SOD, CAT and level of MDA at about 67.16%, 71.42% and 43.80% respectively compared to control animals. These results suggested that aqueous extract has strong hepatoprotective effect on CCl4-induced liver damage and increase antioxidant defense system activity.

In Silico Identification of a Potential TNF-Alpha Binder Using a Structural Similarity: A Potential Drug Repurposing Approach to the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease

“…This plant has exhibited promising therapeutic effects on cognitive deficit, among other plants that may have a beneficial effect on cognitive function [20][21][22]. Rauwolfia vomitoria is an ethnomedicinal plant commonly used in traditional African medicine for various ailments, including inflammation [23][24][25].…”