Hepatoprotective Effect of Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Abrus Precatorius in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Imprinting Control Region (ICR) Mice; A Histopathological Perspective

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the histological perspective of hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic leaf extract of A. precatorius in P. berghei infected Imprinting Control Region (ICR) mice. Thirty-six (36) ICR mice were separated into six groups of six mice each. Five groups were intravenously inoculated with P. berghei and changes in parasitaemia was then monitored and recorded daily to confirm infection. The sixth group was neither infected nor treated (the normal control group). Seven days after infection, four groups were administered orally with 30, 50 and 100mg/kg of the extract and 4mg/kg of Artemeter Lumefanthrine for five consecutive days, whereas the fifth group was not treated (negative control). Changes in P.berghei parasitaemia on days 0,1,2,3 and 4 during treatment were then ascertained. Haematological analysis of blood samples and histopathological evaluation of liver and spleen sections were then carried out to determine the tissue regenerative effect of the extract. Mice treated with 30, 50, 100mg/kg of extract and 4mg/kg of Artemether Lumefanthrine, had significantly (p<0.05) lower malaria parasitaemia and high parasite clearance accompanied with regeneration of hepatocytes in liver sections. Also, there was significant closure of parasitophorous vacuoles in treated groups, as compared with the negative control group that showed severe hepatocyte derangement and conspicuous parasitophorous vacuoles around parasitized hepatocytes. The ethanolic leaf extract of A. precatorius showed significant histological evidence of hepatoprotective activity (p<0.05) against P. berghei infected ICR mice.