Hepatoprotective and antioxidative effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Langenaria breviflora (bitter gourd) on indomethacin-ulcerated rats.

Studies on the possibility of indomethacin-mediated hepatotoxicity have not received considerable attention over the years. The percentage of chronic users continue to rise, and its consequential hepatotoxic effect is encountered more frequently than ever. This study explored the effect of administration of ethanolic leaves extract of Lageneria breviflora on the hepatocyte and stomach of indomethacin-ulcerated rats. Ulceration was induced with indomethacin (60 mg/kg b.wt). Ulcerated rats were then administered with 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract for 21 days. At the end of the experiment, liver function indices and stomach oxidative status were evaluated. The study indicates that the extract significantly reduced (p< 0.05) serum activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase as well as albumin and total bilirubin concentrations. The stomach catalase and superoxide dismutase activities as well as the reduced glutathione level also improved significantly (p< 0.05) following treatment with the extract. Stomach lipid peroxidation in the ulcerated rats was also normalized by the extract. Data from this study indicates that the leaves of Lageneria breviflora possess hepatoprotective and antioxidative activities. Our findings suggest that the extract exerts its antiulcerogenic activity via antioxidative