The effect of methanol extract of <i>Ficus exasperata</i> stem bark and leaves on some liver function markers and histopathological changes in 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine induced liver toxicity

This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of Ficus exasperata leaf extract and stem bark extract against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced liver toxicity in male Wistar rats. A total of 35 rats were divided into seven groups. Group I served as the control, group 2 was treated with the leaf extract only (400 mg/kg body weight), group 3 received stem bark extract only (250 mg/kg body weight), group 4 was treated with DMH only (30 mg/kg body weight), group 5, 6 and 7 were given DMH subcutaneously (30 mg/kg body weight) and later treated with leaf extract (400 mg/kg body weight), stem bark extract (250 mg/kg body weight) and combination of leaf (200 mg/kg body weight) and stem bark extract (125 mg/kg body weight) respectively. Liver function was assessed through biochemical analysis of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), albumin, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin levels in the serum, while liver histopathology was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Biochemical analysis revealed a significant increase in ALT, AST, albumin, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin levels across the different treatment groups. Notably, Group 4, treated with DMH alone, exhibited markedly elevated ALT levels (48.08±6.211 IU/L) and albumin levels (95.50±36.72 mg%), indicative of severe liver injury. Conversely, Group 6, treated with DMH and stem bark extract, showed relatively lower ALT levels (26.71±3.807 IU/L), suggesting a potential hepatoprotective effect of the stem bark. Histopathological examination revealed varying degrees of liver pathology, with DMH-induced liver damage characterized by sinusoidal Kupffer cell mobilization and periportal infiltrates of inflammatory and plasma cells. Overall, the findings suggest that Ficus exasperata leaf and stem bark extracts may possess hepatoprotective properties against DMH-induced liver toxicity, with the stem bark extract showing promising protective effects.