Hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Plectranthus amboinicus (lour.) spreng leaf in DMBA induced rats

The hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic of Plectranthus amboinicus Lour Spreng leaf extract (PEE) on blood biochemical profiles, non-specific immune system, liver histology were evaluated in rats induced DMBA. Twenty five female rats were divided into five groups, each with 5 rats. The negative control group (NC) received only food and water. The positive control group (PC) administered orally DMBA 20 mg/kg body weight (bw) once every four days for 32 days. The treatment groups received the PEE with three different doses of 175 (T1), 350 (T2), 700 (T3) mg/kg bw, respectively for 27 days after DMBA induction. At the end of the treatment, blood samples were collected to investigate the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total protein, albumin and globulin as well as the hematological parameter, such as neutrophils, monocyte, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red cell distribution width (RDW) were monitored. The results showed an increased level in ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin in the PC group. However, the T3 group (PEE 700 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease value (p < 0.05) in ALT, ALP, and bilirubin compared to the PC group. Our finding revealed that all PEE treatments had a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the total protein, albumin and globulin compared to the PC group. The neutrophils (18.60 ± 4.64) and monocytes (61.40 ± 4.99) are lowest in the T2 groups as well as the value of MCH, RDW and MCV were significantly alleviated compared to all other groups. Histopathological observation demonstrated that the administration of PEE improved hepatocyte architecture and reduced the number of necrosis and hydrophilic degeneration. In conclusion, PEE has hepatoprotective activity by improving liver function, enhancing the non-specific immune system and recovering histopathological hepatocytes in rats exposed to DMBA.