Economic Importance of Garcinia Kola: Evidences of Shielding Outcome Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Kidney Toxicity in Experimental Models

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of aqueous extract of Garcinia kola) seeds on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in adult Wistar rats. Thirty adult Wistar rats weighing between 65-145g were randomly divided into six groups of 5 rats each. Group A (control) rats were orally administered with 5ml/kg body weight of distilled water daily for 2 weeks, group B rats were administered distilled water orally daily for 2 weeks (volume per body weight) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) 0.4 m1/kg intraperitonially as a single application on day 14 of the experiment. Group C rats were administered 100 mg of silymarin / kg body weight once daily for 2 weeks followed by a single dose of CCl4 (0.4 m1) on day 14 of the experiment. Group D rats were administered 400 mg aqueous extract bitter kola (Garcinia kola) / kg body weight orally once daily for 2 weeks. Group E and F rats were administered 400 mg and 200 mg aqueous extract bitter kola (Garcinia kola) seed) orally once daily for 2 weeks followed by a single dose of CCl4 (0.4 m1) on day 14 respectively. At the end of the experiment. Garcinia kola seed aqueous extract caused significant decrease in the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in the serum of the extract treated groups. Histopathological examinations revealed distortion of histoarchitecture such as, sinusoidal congestion, necrosis, steatosis and fibrosis was observed in group B. The administration of aqueous extract of Garcinia kola seed remarkably inhibited histoarchitectural distortion induced by CCl4 administration. Effects of the extract at dose of 200mg/kg was comparable to the reference drug. Garcinia kola aqueous seed extract showed a remarkable hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity as observed from the serum marker enzymes and antioxidant levels in liver tissues. CCl4 induced a significant rise in AST, ALT, and ALP with an increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reduction lipid peroxidation (MDA). Treatment of the rats with the extract significantly (p<0.05) altered serum marker enzymes and antioxidant levels to near normal compared with CCl4- treated rats (group B). The activity of the extract at dose of 400mg/kg (group F) was comparable to the standard drug confirmed by histopathological examinations of liver sections. Conclusion: Garcinia kola aqueous extract has hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats.