HISTOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF ETHYL-ACETATE BARK FRACTION OF Alstonia boonei ON CCL4-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ADULT MALE WISTAR RATS

Background: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatotoxicity is associated with oxidative stress, impaired liver function, and structural damage. Alstonia boonei is a medicinal plant rich in bioactive phytochemicals with reported antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. This study investigated the Effects of the ethyl-acetate fraction of A. boonei (EAFAB) on CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Methodology: Forty two adult male Wistar rats were exposed to CCl₄ and treated orally with EAFAB (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) or silymarin (100 mg/kg) for 14 days. Body weight was assessed, while serum total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (ALT), alanine aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. Liver tissues were examined using hematoxylin and eosin and Reticulin stain. Results: CCl₄ administration significantly reduced body weight and serum total protein, increased ALT, AST, ALP, and MDA, and reduced SOD activity compared with the control group. EAFAB treatment improved body weight and total protein, reduced ALT and AST activities, and markedly decreased MDA concentration. ALP activity was also reduced following EAFAB treatment, although the difference was not statistically significant. EAFAB and silymarin improved SOD activity, but these changes were not statistically significant. Histologically, CCl₄ caused sinusoidal dilation, disorganization of hepatic cords, and fragmentation of the reticulin network, whereas EAFAB promoted restoration of hepatic architecture, with the 400 mg/kg dose showing the most pronounced improvement. Conclusion: EAFAB demonstrated promising hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄-induced hepatic injury, particularly through attenuation of lipid peroxidation and improvement of biochemical and histological alterations.