Hepatoprotective Properties of Citrus aurantifolia Juice and Carica papaya Seed Extract Mixture against Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Liver Injury in Albino Rats

Background: Citrus aurantifolia and Carica papaya, are commonly known as lime and paw- paw respectively, they are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of liver diseases and other various diseases. This study investigated the hepatoprotective properties of the aqueous extracts of Citrus aurantifolia juice and Carica papaya seed against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- induced hepatotoxicity with the help of serum biochemistry and histomorphology of the liver of albino rats.

Materials and Methods: Twelve (12) female albino rats were used for this study. They were weighed and divided into four groups (A-D) of three rats each. Pre-treatments with oral doses of 200 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous extracts of Citrus aurantifolia for group C and 400mg/kg body weight for group D for ten days via oral gavage. Group A (Baseline control) and B (Negative control) received food and water for ten days preceding liver injury induction using subcutaneous administration of 3ml/kg b.wt. of CCl4 mixed in equal parts with olive oil. Liver injury was induced in all rats except rats in Group A. Blood samples were collected from the rats and sera obtained were used for the determination of serum levels of Total bilirubin, Alanine transaminase (ALT), and Aspartate transaminase (AST). Upon sacrifice, under anesthesia, liver tissues were excised for histological processing and microscopy.

Results: Increased serum activities of total bilirubin, ALT and AST, in CCl4-treated (negative control) rats were observed when compared with baseline control. However, pre-treatments with aqueous extract of Citrus aurantifolia juice and Carica papaya seed reduced the serum levels of the total bilirubin and ALT levels of rats in groups C and D. Microscopical examination of the liver showed centrilobular necrosis, ballooning, degenerated and vacuolated hepatocytes in CCl4-treated rats but improvement of the liver damage was observed in rats pre-treated with aqueous extractS of citrus aurantifolia juice and Carica papaya seed.

Conclusion: Aqueous extracts of Citrus aurantifolia juice and Carica papaya seed possess hepatoprotective activities against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.