Abstract
The liver plays a role in many body functions such as immune defense and the metabolism of sugar and fat. Rifampin (RIF) is an antibacterial drug prescribed to treat tuberculosis (TB) along with multiple drugs. Other types of infections may also be treated with rifampin. Although the therapeutic effect of RIF has many adverse effects such as hepatoyoxicity. Neem (NM) has more than 140 compounds from various parts that have been isolated and can thus play a role in preventing hepatotoxicity. The research was carried out to examine the protective effect of neem leaves extract (NMLE) on RIF-induced liver damage. Forty male rats had been divided into four groups; Group I) non-treated negative control group, (Group II), which was given RIF (54 mg/kg/day) for thirty days, (groups III and IV intoxicated rats received orally the NMLE in doses of two hundred and fifty and five hundred mg/kg/day respectively, for 30 days. At day 30, blood was collected for biochemical analysis, as well as the liver was also examined histopathologically. The results revealed that the MILE at the two dosage levels significantly decreased serum levels of liver enzymes and MDA accompanied by significantly increased in activities of GSH, SOD, and showed ant-inflammatory effects as evidence by significantly decreased in TNF-alpha and IL-l alpha levels compared to RIF group II. There was also an improvement in histopathological alterations observed in liver tissues of hepatotoxic rats. Therefore, the administrations of NMLE has hepatoprotective effects in hepatotoxic rats via antioxidant and ant-inflammatory pathway.