Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the hepatoprotective activity of methanol extracts of peduncles, flowers and spathes of Pandanus odoratissimus L. inflorescence in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in guinea pigs.
Methods: The animals were randomly assigned to 9 groups (3 animals per group) and treated orally for 10 consecutive days. Group 1 served as normal control and received distilled water (1 ml/kg); groups 2 - 4 received methanol extracts of peduncle, flower, and spathes of P. odoratissimus L. (500 mg/kg), respectively, in the absence of acetaminophen (APAP); group 5 served as hepatotoxic control and received APAP (3 g/kg) on days 1 and 2; group 6 served as standard treatment group and received silymarin (100 mg/kg) + 3 g/kg APAP on days 1 and 2; groups 7 -9 received methanol extracts of peduncle, flower, and spathes of P. odoratissimus L. (500 mg/kg) respectively + 3 g/kg APAP on days 1 and 2. Serum enzyme activities (AST, ALT, ALP) and total bilirubin were determined. Histopathological examinations of the liver were also carried out.
Results: The methanol extract of the peduncle alleviated the liver damage induced by APAP as evident by the improved histopathology picture similar to that of silymarin which presented with only mild hydropic and fatty changes. The extract also reduced the liver enzymes - AST, ALT and ALP - by 42, 50 and 59 %, respectively (p < 0.05), but the reduction (32 %) in total bilirubin was not significant 32 %. On the other hand, the flower extract only lowered AST and ALP by 31 and 48 % (p < 0.05), respectively, while the reduction in ALT and total bilirubin by 33 and 18 % respectively, was not significant.
Conclusion: P. odoratissimus L. peduncle has potential hepatoprotective activity against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in guinea pigs.