Cissus populnea

Cissus populnea has been reported to have high antioxidant content which is beneficial to health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects aqueous extract of Cissus pulpolnae on the liver of Wistar rats. Twenty (20) male Wistar rats were allowed to acclimatize for two weeks under standard laboratory conditions (temperature 24-28°C and 12 hour light-dark cycle) before commencement of the experiment. The rats in each group were allowed access to standard rat chow and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. The rats were randomly assigned into a control group and three treatment groups (5) rats each. The rats in Group A served as control and received feed and water ad libitum only. The treatment groups B received intraperitoneal injection of 30% CCl4 only; group C received 500 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Cissus populnea only; group D received 500 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Cissus populnea and intraperitoneal injection of 30% CCl4. The experimental period lasted for 14 days. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia. Blood samples were collected, in plain bottles, from the Inferior vena cava of each rat for biochemical assay. The liver was excised and fixed in 10% buffered formalsaline for routine histological processing. The data generated were subjected to statistical analysis. Significant difference in the means of all parameters was determined using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA; 95% confidence interval). The result obtained showed that CCL4 induced some pathologies on the liver tissue ranging from formation of lipid vacuoles (steatosis) to degeneration of the hepatocyte and obliteration of the sinusoids. Cissus populnea ameliorated the pathologies induced by CCL4 on the liver tissue. It is concluded however that Cissus populnea possess hepatoprotective potential against CCL4 insult.