Effects of Asystasia gangetica Extract on Biochemical Parameters and Liver Histomorphology of Monosodium Glutamate Induced Rats

The study assessed the hepatoprotective and therapeutic effects of methanol extract of Asystasia gangetica leaves (MEAGL) on rats induced liver injury with monosodium glutamate (MSG). In this study, fifty-four rats were selected into nine groups, with each of the groups having six rats. Group 1 was the negative control; group 2 was a positive control treated only with MSG, and group 3 was group treated with MSG + 100 mg/kg/day of silymarin. Groups 4 and 5 were extract groups administered with 200 and 500 mg/kg MEAGL/day, whereas groups 6 and 7 were hepatoprotectant groups pre-treated with 200 and 500 mg/kg MEAGL/day before MSG administration. Groups 8 and 9 were the therapeutic groups first treated with MSG and then orally administered with 200 and 500 mg/kg MEAGL/day, respectively. The positive group treated with MSG only had significantly (P 0.05) elevated alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities relative to the negative control. MSG induction further caused a significant (P 0.05) reduction in total protein and albumin concentrations and elevated total and direct bilirubin concentrations of the positive control relative to the negative control. In the groups of MEAGL pre-treated rats as well as the rats treated with MEAGL after being treated with MSG, significantly (P 0.05) reduced ALT, AST and ALP activities and elevated total protein and albumin concentrations and improved liver architecture compared with the positive group treated only with MSG, were observed. The findings revealed that the MEAGL possess both hepatoprotective and therapeutic activities that could ameliorate MSG-induced hepatic disorders.