Adeoke Olatunbosun, Chidi E. Ezoriha, Nigar F. Huseynova
Abstract
Abstract
Herbal preparations from medicinal plants offer an effective remedy to some liver injuries due to their rich phytonutrients. Herbal preparations are made from herbal drugs, such as whole plant, plant parts, algae, fungi, lichen, exudates, in a crude state in dried or fresh form and extracts with the help of different processes such as infusion, decoction, maceration, distillation, expression, fractionation, purification, concentration, fermentation. These herbal preparations include whole plant or parts, comminuted, or powdered herbal drugs, tinctures and extracts, fatty oils, essential oils, expressed juices and processed exudates of herbal materials. This study aimed to investigate the protective potential of aqueous leaf extracts of Ageratum conyzoides on activities of specific biomarkers for liver and kidney damage like ALT, AST, Creatinine, and Urea in control and treated animals. An overdose of 1000mg/kg paracetamol significantly (p<0.05) increases the activity of ALT, AST, and albumin, levels of total protein, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, and bicarbonate respectively, whereas the activity of ALP and levels of potassium and sodium were significantly (p<0.05) reduced as compared to normal. Of the three experimental drug concentrations, an exposure with 600mg/kg aqueous extract of A. conyzoides yielded the best results as it restored the values of ALT, AST, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, and bicarbonate compared to control whereas ALP, total protein, albumin, potassium, and sodium levels are not restored by administration of plant extract. It is evident from observations that aqueous extract of A. conyzoides steadily repaired injured hepatic tissues and impaired renal function caused by paracetamol.