Gutta percha tree (Ficus platyphylla) is used in Nigerian traditional medicine for treating pain and psychosis. This study was to evaluate the protective effect of methanol stem bark extract of Ficus platyhylla (MEFP) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in Wistar rats. Rats were allotted into six groups namely normal control, negative control, standard drug (silymarin) and extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o respectively) groups. All groups were treated for 7 days. On the 7th day, after the last treatment doses were given, the animals of groups II-VI were administered with a single dose of CCl4 (1:1) p.o. in olive oil at 1.5 ml/kg body weight. After 24 hours of CCl4 administration, rats were sacrificed, and blood samples collected for determination of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The livers were isolated and hepatic post-mitochondrial supernatant prepared for biochemical analysis of the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). MEFP inhibited CCl4induced oxidative stress by significantly (p˂0.05) increasing CAT, SOD, GPx activities and decreasing ALT and AST levels. MEFP offered protection to the rats liver against oxidative injury induced by CCl4 in vivo an effect mediated, possibly by its antioxidant effect.
Key words: Ficus platyphylla; Gutta percha tree; liver damage; Carbon tetrachloride; Wistar rats
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