Administration of banana green peel ethanolic extract to carbontetrachloride-induced albino wistar rats offers slight hepato-protection

Abstract

Effect of banana green peels ethanolic extract on the liver function and histology of albino Wistar rats treated with intraperitoneal administration of 4 ml/kg body weight of Carbontetrachloride (CCl4) was investigated. 30 Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups of 5 each as follows: Group 1 (normal control) and 2 (CCl₄ group) received normal feed and 4 ml/kg body weight CCl₄ plus olive oil respectively; Group 2 were CCl₄-induced on day 21; Group 3 received 1 ml/kg body weight tween 80 plus olive oil; Group 4, 5 and 6 were also CCl₄-induced at 4 ml/kg body weight, and then administered 500mg/kg body weight of green banana peels, 1000 mg/kg body weight of green banana peels, and 100 mg of Vitamin C respectively. Animals were sacrificed after 21 days of treatment. Serum samples and liver organs were collected for liver function profile, and haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) histological analyses. Result showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in levels of albumin, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (except alanine transaminase (ALT) that was significantly (p<0.05) increased when compared with positive control group). The histology of extract treated groups 4 and 5 showed prominent derangement of hepatocytes but was less severe when compared to CCl₄-induced group. Hepatotoxic effect of CCl₄ on the liver was positively modulated in the Vitamin C treated Group 6. In conclusion, the ethanolic green banana peels extract possess very mild hepato-protective effect on the histomorphology and altered liver function enzymes.