Histological and Biochemical effects of Aqueous Extracts of Tectona grandis leaf on high-fat induced non-alcoholic fatty liver in albino rats

This study was done to determine the histological and biochemical effects of aqueous leaf extract of Tectona grandis on egg yolk induced non- alcoholic liver damage. The rats were randomly divided into four groups A, B, C, and D comprising of 8 rats each. Group A served as the control. Group B received egg yolk daily for 30 days, Group C was treated with 300 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of T. grandis alone while Group D was fed egg yolk and was treated with aqueous leaf extract of T. grandis for 30days. Oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase and catalase activities), cholesterol, alanine transaminase levels were determined in serum. Significant (P<0.05) increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), cholesterol and alanine transaminase activities were observed in group B. SOD, CAT, Cholesterol and alanine transaminase levels in serum of rats treated groups(groups C and D)were generally lower or statistically significant to control. Histological examination of the liver tissue confirmed the therapeutic effect of T. grandis leaf extract as evidenced by the complete reversal of the significant macrovascular steatosis seen in group B compared to the normal liver architecture seen in the control and treated group. In conclusion, our study showed that T. grandis leaf can act as a protective agent against oxidative stress and liver injury caused by high fat diet.