Aims: The present study was carried out to evaluate the protective effects of kolaviron (KV), a biflavonoid from Garcinia kola seeds on diclofenac-induced hepatic injury in Wistar rats.
Methods: Twenty-five male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups...
Aims: The present study was carried out to evaluate the protective effects of kolaviron (KV), a biflavonoid from Garcinia kola seeds on diclofenac-induced hepatic injury in Wistar rats.
Methods: Twenty-five male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each. Group 1 (control) received propylene glycol at 2 ml/kg orally for 28 days. Group 2 received 10 mg/kg of diclofenac (DCLF) (i.m) for 7 days. Groups 3 and 4 received KV orally at 100 and 200 mg/kg respectively for 28 days and subsequently treated with DCLF for 7 days. Group 5 received Livolin Forte (a reference drug) orally at 5.2 mg/kg for 28 days and DCLF for 7 days. At the end of the study, all the rats were sacrificed under ketamine anesthetic, 24 hours after treatment. Pro-inflammatory cytokines level, markers of liver function, oxidative stress and histopathological alterations were evaluated.
Results: DCLF caused significant increase in the plasma activities of liver enzymes, including bilirubin level, pro-inflammatory cytokine and NF-kB when compared with the control (P<0.05). It also caused significant alteration in antioxidant status of the rats. It caused distortion of the liver histoarchitecture of the rats. However, kolaviron significantly prevented or reduced (P<0.05) the alterations caused by DCLF in the plasma and liver of the rats pre-treated with KV before DCLF administration.
Conclusions: KV exhibited a protective properties against DCLF-induced hepatotoxicity, due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It appears to be as effective as Livolin Forte in attenuating DCLF-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.