Protective Effect of Aqueous – Methanol Extract of Melia azedarach Against Paracetamol – Induced Hepatitis in Rabbits

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the efficiency of aqueous – methanol (30:70%) extract of Melia azedarach L. fruit against paracetamol – induced hepatitis in rabbits. This research was conducted at, University of Diyala, College of Veterinary Medicine. Twenty mature, 1-2 years old male rabbits, were kept in a room at 20- 27oC. After 2 weeks of adaptation, they were divided into four groups of, 5 animals each. Rabbits of the first group were left without any treatment (without extract and without treatment with paracetamol) to serve as a (negative control group). The rabbits in the second group, were treated orally (PO) with aqueous – methanol (30:70%) extract of M. azedarach fruit (300 mg / kg body weight) dissolved in 2 ml saline, daily for 9 days. On the 10th day, hepatitis was induced via treatment with paracetamol (250 mg / kg body weight (b.w) dissolved in 2 ml saline) intraperitoneally (IP), daily for 9 days, the treatment with extract was continued till the end of the study on day 18th (hepatoprotective group). Meanwhile, rabbits of the third group were left without treatment during the first 9 days, then hepatitis was induced on 10th day, as described previously, accompanied by treatment with the same dosage of the extract, dissolved in 2 ml saline for 9 days (PO) (hepatocurative group). Rabbits in the fourth group were not treated with extract during the study, but on the 10th day they were treated with paracetamol, 250 mg / kg b. wt. dissolved in 2 ml saline (I.P.) for 9 days (control group). All animals, were euthanized on day 18 and, blood was collected and serum was obtained to estimate levels of serum enzymes (RMS, ALT, AST, TSB, TSP, BUN, and Creatinine). The dependent parameters were heart rates, respiratory rates, body weight and body temperature, in addition to some hematological parameters, clotting and bleeding times, total and differential leucocytes count. The results revealed that the levels of biochemical parameters increased in paracetamol- treated rabbits in comparison with the non- treated groups, while the total protein content decreased. The extract exhibited a significant reduction in biochemical parameters (P<0.05). In conclusion, it is obvious that Sibahbah aqueous alcohol extract possesses a significant hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol – induced hepatitis.