Hepatoprotective Potential of Alkaloid Extracts from Vitex doniana and Ficus thonningii Leaves in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

Aim: This study sought to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of alkaloid extracts from V. doniana and F. thonningii leaves on alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods: Fresh leaves of V. doniana and F. thonningii were obtained from a local market Nkwagu in Abakaliki local government area of Ebonyi State. They were dried and pulverized to fine granules using manual grinder. Crude alkaloid was extracted using standard method. The acute oral toxicity of both plants was determined. Forty adult male albino rats were induced intraperitoneally with alloxan. The rats were grouped into eight groups of five animals per group: Groups 1 and 2 were treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of V. doniana respectively, groups 3 and 4 were treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of F. thonningii respectively, group 5 was treated with 100 mg/kg of V. doniana + 100 mg/kg of F. thonningii, group 6 was treated with 200 mg/kg of V. doniana + 200 mg/kg of F. thonningii, group 7 animals were not induced with alloxan and untreated (normal control) while group 8 were induced with alloxan but not treated (diabetic control). The extracts were administered to the animals orally for 30 days. Biochemical analyses were assayed using standard methods.

Results: Alloxan-induced diabetes greatly caused hepatotoxicity but was ameliorated by alkaloid extracts from V. doniana and F. thonningii leaves.

Conclusion: Results showed that alloxan induction damaged the liver but the effects were ameliorated by extracts of V. doniana and F. thonningii, thus, making both plants hepatoprotective. However, extract of F. thoningii seems to be more potent.