Project Materials

HEPATOPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS OF SENA TORA LEAVE EXTRACT ON CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED TOXICITY

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

Many impoverished countries, notably African countries like Nigeria, use traditional medicine as their primary source of health treatment. This traditional medication is typically derived from plants [Rehan Ahmad et al, 2008; Stephen bent, 2008].

Today, approximately 88 percent of the world’s population uses plant-derived medications as their first line of defence for health maintenance and disease prevention [Kintzois et al., 2006].

Currently, there are approximately 60 species of medicinal plants that have been identified in primary health care and are classified according to their pharmacological effects such as peptic ulcers, antiflatulence, laxative, antidiarrhoea, and antihepatic [Viomolos et al, 2003].

However, in the future, the development of novel medicinal molecules will be solely based on plant origin [Perulmalsamy et al 1999]. Senna tora is an example of traditional medicine having pharmacological activities such as anticholesterolemic, antispasmodic, carninitative, emolliants, ophthalmic, and purgative [Polunin and Stanton, 1984; Yeung, 1985; Manandhar, 2002].

It can be cardiotonic, antiperiodic, anthelminitic, and expectorant, as well as used to treat cogh, leprosy, ringworm, colic, flatulence, constipation, and other illnesses [Nature Serve, 2007].

Senna tora, formerly known as cassia tora, can inhibit the formation of prostaglandins and other inflammatory agonists such as cytokines, histamine, kinin, and free radicals. Manila, 1998 supported his findings by confirming its use in Korea for the treatment of constipation, oedema, and liver protection. The liver, the largest internal organ of the human body, conducts over 500 tasks, many of which are critical to survival.

The liver can regenerate or grow back cells that have been lost by short-term injury or disease; however, if the liver is repeatedly harmed over time, it may acquire irreversible alterations that permanently impair its function. Carbon tetrachloride is a hazardous chemical that disrupts the liver’s functioning.

This means that ingesting it causes liver damage. CCL4 is stable in the presence of air and light, but it is also inflammable. Despite its toxicity to the liver, it is helpful as a grain fumigant, pesticide, and other applications.

Carbon tetrachloride alters the equilibrium of bodily fluids and secretions. For example, CCL4 inhibits or alters lipid metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, and liver biotransformation processes. Thus, carbon tetrachloride is fatal.

The liver generates enzymes such as aspartate amino transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyl transsferase, and others that catalyse the body’s metabolic activity; however, when CCL4 attacks the liver, these enzymes are not generated.

Free radicals are extremely reactive molecules with an unequal quantity of electrons in their outermost orbits. This can combine with biological components such as unsaturated fatty acids to produce new free radicals, causing permanent biochemical injury such as membrane damage, apotosis, and cell necrosis.

Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and inhibit subsequent processes, thereby protecting macromolecules and the cellular environment from toxicity and degeneration [Hong B.O. Shao et al, 2008]. The oxygen consumption inherent in cell growth generates a variety of reactive oxygen species [ROS].

ROS include substances such as superoxide anion radicals and hydroxyl radicals [OH]. ROS can be extremely harmful, targeting the lipids of cell membranes and causing DNA mutations, which can advance the spread of many diseases [Valontao et al 2002, Gulcin et al 2003].

Reactive oxygen species are constantly created during normal physiological activities and are eliminated by antioxidant defence mechanisms [Buyukokuroglu et al., 2001]. Many studies have demonstrated that some cassia species have developed antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

1.1 Aims of the Research

The purpose of this study is to investigate the hepatoproductive effects of sena tora leaf extract on carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity.