Uric acid, urea and bilirubin levels of albino rats treated with activity directed fractions of Vernonia Amygdalina during acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity

The effect of activity directed fractions of vernonia amygdalina on the levels of urea, uric acid; total and conjugated bilirubin in wistar albino rats during acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity was investigated in this research. The forty-eight (48) wistar albino rats used were divided into 8 groups of six rats each. Group one, the normal control group received distilled water, group two received only paracetamol throughout the experimental period. Groups three to eight were administered with 171.43mg/kg body weight of paracetamol and treated with 200mg/kg body weight of activity directed fractions of vernonia amygdalina throughout the 14 days of treatment. Result shows significantly lower levels (p 0.05) than the normal control, the levels were significantly higher (p 0.05) in chloroform and residue E treated groups when compared with the normal control. Non - significantly higher levels (p>0.05) of conjugated bilirubin were observed in all treated groups except the ethyl acetate fraction group compared to the paracetamol group. Vernonia amygdalina fractions have the ability to protect against acetaminophen induced liver damage coupled with antioxidative potentials. This suggests that vernonia amygdalina is suitable for the treatment of acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity.