Hepato-curative Effects of Methanol Extract from Nigerian Bee Propolis in Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4) Intoxicated Rats

Abstract

The hepatoprotective effects of methanol extracts from bee propolis against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in albino rats were evaluated. Twenty rats of wister strains were group into 4 (A-D) of 5 rats each: Group A and B serves as normal control and CCL4 control respectively while group C and D were treated with 600mg/kg methanol extracts of bee propolis and 100mg/kg Silymarin (Standard) respectively. The CCL4 were administered in 72hrs interval intraperitoneally, while the extract was given daily for 10days through oral route. The ALT activities in serum and liver were significantly (p<0.05) highest and Lowest respectively in negative control rats when compared with normal control and other experimental groups, however rat treated with propolis extract compared well (p>0.05) with control value in their serum and liver ALT activites. The serum AST activities were significantly (p<0.05) raised in negative control rats when compared with normal control and other experimental group. However, no significant (p>0.05) difference were observed in Liver AST activities of all experimental groups when compared with the control values. The ALP activities in serum and liver were significantly (p<0.05) lowest and highest respectively in negative control rats when compared with normal control and other experimental group. The liver ALP of rats treated with sylimarin and propolis compared well with the control value.The serum and Liver Total proteins were significantly (p<0.05) highest in the control rats than all other experimental group. The serum and Liver Total proteins in propolis treated rats compared well (P>0.05) with the negative control rats and were significantly higher than the sylimarin treated rats. In conclusion, bee propolis has ameliorated the adverse effects of CCL4 induced Liver damage and could therefore, be recommended as an effective natural product for the management of liver disease