The liver serves as a processing laboratory, redistribution centre and a receiving depot of the body. In the light of these roles, the effect of ethanol extract of Maringa oleifera leaves on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in wistar rats was assessed. Carbon tetrachloride CCl4 (0.5ml/kg,p.i) was used to induce hepatotoxicity. Twenty (28) albino rats of wistar strain (100-175g) were used for the studies and were divided into 7 groups of six (6) rats per each. Group A served as control and was treated with distil water of treatment equivalence, group B, C,D,E, F and G were treated with treated as follows; group B(olive oil treated), C (CCl4 treated), and group D-G (extract and CCl4 treated groups). The administered was done via oral gavages with ethanolic leaves extract of Moringa oleifera at 2.5ml/kg/day body weight at scalar doses(10mg/kg,200mg/kg,300mg/kg,1g/kg) daily, the administration of the extract lasted for twenty eight (28) days period after which the animals sacrificed, blood and tissue were obtained for biochemical and histological analysis. Serum enzyme assay results reveals ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves recorded a marked reduction in the elevated activities of the hepatic enzymes viz; Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) A (1.60±0.07), B (1.63±0.10), C (1.68±0.10) D (1.68±0.09), E (1.20±0.14), F (1.13±0.10), G (1.48±0.13) levels of rats. Similar trend was observed for Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), but no changes was observed for Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels when compared with the control at (p<0.05). However, these enzymes still remain elevated CCl4 treated which did not receive the extract. More so, the micrograph of CCl4-group compared with control group showed evidence of liver necrosis as indicated by distended hepatocytes, compression of sinusoids, fatty change and vacuolation of cytoplasm. The treated groups at varying concentration of the extract (10%, 20%, and 30%) generally showed mild defects when compared with the untreated CCl4 group. It is however interesting to know that the 100% M.oleifera treated group showed a healthy liver cells as in the case with the normal olive oil groups. Hence, from the above findings, it is obvious that ethanolic leaves extract of M.oleifera has hepatoprotective and hepatocurative potentials in hepatocellular disorders.
