Abstract

Objective: Hepatotoxins such as lead has potency of distorting hepatic histomorphology. Conversely, antitoxins exhibit anti-hepatotoxic effects by ameliorating their damaging effects. This study was carried out to comparatively assess ameliorative effects of Vitamin E and green tea extract on hepatic histomorphology of rat model of lead-induced hepatopathy.
Methods: Forty two (n=42) animals were equally grouped into six: Group A received 5 ml/kg distilled water; Group B received 2 mg/ml lead acetate; Groups C and D received 2 mg/ml lead acetate + 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg Vitamin E respectively; Groups E and F received 2 mg/ml lead acetate + 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg green tea extract respectively. All treatment was via oral route and lasted for 35 days wherein animal body weight was regularly recorded. Serum ALT and AST levels were determined; hepatic tissues were harvested, weighed and processed for histomorphological study. Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS (version 20) and compared using t-test and analysis of variance.
Results: There was significant (p < 0.05) body and organ weight decrease in Group B relative to Group A while Groups C-F only showed marginal reduction. Also, the serum ALT and AST levels were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in Group B while Groups C-F animals only showed marginal increase. The hepatic histomorphological features Groups C-F showed mild variations from normal histomorphology of Group A but intense variations were observed in Group B.
Conclusion: Vitamin E and green tea extract comparatively exhibited histomorphological reparation against damaging effects of lead on hepatic histomorphology. The most potent dosages for their hepato-reparative activity were 200 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg respectively.

Key words: Vitamin E, Green tea extract, Lead acetate, Hepatic histomorphology, Wistar rats