A Study of the Hepatic Tolerance of the Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Morinda morindoides (Baker) Milne-Redhead (Rubiaceae) Extract in Rabbit

Purpose: In this study, the effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of the extract of Morinda morindoides (Baker) Milne-Redhead (Rubiaceae) on the tissue and metabolic integrity of rabbit liver was evaluated. Methods: Thirty rabbits (divided equally between male and female) were randomly distributed into five (5) groups of six (6) rabbits each. These animals received, by intraperitoneal injection, twice a week the ethyl acetate fraction (F1) of the hydroalcohol extract of Morinda morindoides in doses ranging from 25 to 100 μg/kg body weight for Groups 2 (Gp2) to 5 (Gp5) while Group 1 (Gp1) and control, received 1 ml of MacEwen physiological fluid. Blood sampling was carried out to evaluate various parameters: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gammaglutamyltransferase (γGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and total proteins Results: Analysis of the parameters following administration of the extract fraction showed slight increases in AST and ALT activities as well as the concentrations of total cholesterol and glucose, compared to their initial values. On the other hand, protein, glyceride, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as well as the activities of ALP, γGT and the LDH did not change significantly (p 0.05). Nevertheless, the changes observed during the study were within the limits of the normal values for these various parameters in rabbit. Conclusion: These results revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction (F1) of the hydroalchol extract of Morinda morindoïdes, when used in the dose range evaluated in this study, may be well tolerated by the liver.