Protective Effects of Aqueous-Ethanol Leaf Extract of Justicia Carnea Lindl. and Silymarin on Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatorenal Injury in Rats

Background and Purpose: Liver and kidney injuries pose significant global health risks and are often linked to oxidative stress and inflammation. Thioacetamide (TAA) is a hepatorenal toxin widely used in experimental models. Justicia carnea, has been used traditionally for treating liver disorders and silymarin, a flavonoid complex derived from Silybum marianum, is renowned for its hepatoprotective effects. This study investigated the potential protective effects of aqueous-ethanol leaf extract of J. carnea and silymarin on TAA-induced hepatorenal injury in rats.Methods: Six groups (n=5) of male Wistar rats were used in the experiments. Group A (control) received 10 mL/kg of distilled water; group B was administered TAA at a dosage of 300 mg/kg; group C received TAA (300 mg/kg) along with 50 mg/kg of silymarin; groups D, E, and F were administered 300 mg/kg of TAA and subsequently treated with 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. TAA was administered intraperitoneally while silymarin and the extract were administered orally. Treatment was daily for 14 days after which sera and livers from the rats were assayed for enzymes, albumin, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, electrolytes, and antioxidants.Results: Exposure to TAA significantly elevated liver enzyme markers: alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin but reduced albumin levels. TAA exposure also led to increased urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, and chloride levels and caused a significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) but increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver homogenates. However, treatment with silymarin and doses of extract significantly ameliorated hepatorenal function parameters and improved the antioxidant status of the liver in the experimental animals.Conclusion: These findings suggest that both silymarin and J. carnea aqueous-ethanol extract possess hepatoprotective and renoprotective properties, highlighting their potential as therapeutic agents in the management of hepatorenal injuries.