Hepatotoxic Assessment of Phyllanthus amarus leaf Extract in Wistar Rats

Background and Aim: Different parts of Phyllanthus amarus are being used in the treatment of different diseases in several parts of Nigeria without considering its safety. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of ingestion of methanolic leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus on the liver of Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: The acute oral toxicity of the leaf extract (LD50) was determined in 9 Wistar rats divided into 3 groups of 3 rats per group. Group 1 was the control and received distilled water. Different doses of 2000 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg were administered orally once to the study groups 2 and 3 respectively. A sub-chronic toxicity study was carried out in 25 Wistar rats, divided into five groups of 5 rats per group. Group 1 served as control and received distilled water. The remaining 4 groups (2, 3, 4 and 5) served as the study groups and were administered different doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, 750 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg of methanolic leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus respectively on a daily basis for 28 days. Total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), total and conjugated bilirubin (TB and CB), aspartate and alanine transaminase (AST and ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were assayed using standard techniques.

Results: In the acute oral toxicity study, no death or any sign of toxicities were recorded in the rats after 24 hours and up to 14 days post oral administration and there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in all the parameters analysed between the control and the study groups. In sub-chronic toxicity study, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in all parameters analysed between the control and study groups. Histology of the liver of the rats in both the acute and sub-chronic study showed normocytic and normochromic cells.

Conclusion: Methanolic leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus is relatively non-toxic and is not likely to induce liver damage.