Protective potentials of ethyl acetate-ethanolic fraction of Carica papaya leaves against acetaminophen-induced liver damage in rats

Abstract

The liver is an important organ performing vital roles that become affected when damaged. The protective potential of ethyl acetate-ethanolic fraction of Carica papaya leaves on acetaminophen-induced liver damage in female albino rats was investigated. Forty female rats were completely randomized into eight groups (A-H) of five rats each. Group A (control), received 1 ml of distilled water, group B (untreated) received 250 mgkg^-1 bw of acetaminophen, group C received silymarin (50 mgkg^-1 bw) followed by actaminophen (250 mgkg^-1 bw), groups D-G received 100, 200, 400 and 600 mgkg^-1 bw of ethyl acetate-ethanolic fraction of Carica papaya leaves respectively; followed by acetaminophen administration (250 mgkg^-1 bw), while group H (toxicity control) received 600 mgkg^-1 bw extract fraction daily. Ethyl acetate-ethanolic fraction of Carica papaya leaves significantly (p-1 bw of the extract fraction as well as the silymarin group. Activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and the concentration of glutathione were significantly (pCarica papaya leaves prevented acetaminophen-induced rat liver damage probably mainly due to the antioxidant constituents of the fraction.