Protective Effect of Combretum Hypopilinum Diels: Root Bark Extract against CCl4‑Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Background: Combretum hypopilinum is used in Togolese traditional medicine to alleviate various ailments including hepatic disorders. Objective: This study evaluates the hepatoprotective activities of crude ethanolic extract of C. hypopilinum root bark (CECH) and its possible mechanism(s) of action in Wistar rats. Materials and methods: In vitro antioxidant potential was evaluated using DPPH, Ferric-reducing power and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. Hepatoprotective activity was assessed using CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. Animals were pretreated orally with different doses of CECH (200 and 400 mg/kg) once daily for 7 consecutive days and were subjected to intraperitoneal single injection of CCl4 (1 mL/kg). Serum markers of hepatic damage, hepatic endogenous antioxidants, NO, TNF-α and lipid peroxidation contents were measured out. Results: The pretreatment with CECH significantly decreased levels of hepatic enzymes (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001) and MDA in pretreated rats (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). CECH restored the decreased levels of hepatic antioxidants including SOD (p < 0.01), CAT (p < 0.05 at 400 mg/kg) and GSH (p < 0.05 at 400 mg/kg) and significantly inhibited hepatic production of NO (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). as well as the level of TNF-α (p < 0.001) in pretreated rats. Protective effects of CECH were confirmed by histopathological examinations. CECH exhibited antioxidant in vitro and contains also total phenol and flavonoid. Conclusion: This study suggests that CECH protected the liver from CCl4-induced hepatic damage possibly via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.