Evaluation of therapeutic effect of Psidium guajava root extract against the toxicity induced by Ricinus communis (castor oil) in rats

• Published in: Comparative clinical pathology Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 755 - 764
• Main Authors: Amujiri, Angela N., Urama, Dilibe C., Chigor, Chinyere B., Nwani, Christopher D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01.10.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alanine; Alanine transaminase; Antioxidants; Aspartate aminotransferase; Body weight; Cell size; Erythrocytes; Hematology; Hemoglobin; Hepatitis; Indigenous peoples; Medicinal plants; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oil; Oncology; Original Article; Oxidative stress; Pathology; Plant extracts; Psidium guajava; Silymarin; Toxicity; Antioxidant system; Hepatoprotective activity; Liver enzymes; Castor oil
• ISSN: 1618-5641; 1618-565X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00580-021-03277-2

The present study evaluated the therapeutic potential of root extracts of Psidium guajava —a medicinal plant used by the indigenous people of Nigeria to treat hepatitis and other health conditions. Thirty male rats were divided into six groups of five rats. Group 1 received 20 mL/kg body weight of distilled water (normal control). Group 2 was induced with 100 mg/kg body weight of castor oil (positive control); group 3 was induced with 100 mg/kg of castor oil and treated with silymarin (standard control). Groups 4, 5, and 6 were induced with castor oil each and treated with 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight root extracts of Psidium guajava respectively. Administration of the guava extract was done once daily for 28 days, after which tissue sampling was done. Hematological assessment and biochemical and oxidative stress parameters were determined after treatment. The result showed that packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin, and red blood cells in experimental rats induced with castor oil (group 2) decreased significantly compared to the normal control (group 1). Administration of plant extracts was able to significantly increase the antioxidant stress activities and hematological parameters compared to the untreated castor oil–induced group, except for PCV at 200 mg/kg dose. Administration of plant extract did not produce a significant effect on alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphate (ALP). Psidium guajava root extracts have potent hepatoprotective action against castor oil–induced damages in rats and may be useful in ethno-medicine.