HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF Psidium guajava IN KETOCONAZOLE-TREATED ADULT MALE WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Ketoconazole is an imidazole-derived drug used in the treatment of a broad-spectrum of
fungal diseases. It is also believed to be hepatotoxic. This present study investigates
the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Psidium guajava on liver function parameters in
adult male wistar rats treated with ketoconazole. Twenty rats were divided into four
groups, with five rats per group. Group 1 animals were the control animals; group 2
animals received 20mg/kg body weight of ketoconazole for 60 days. Animals in groups
3 and 4 were pre-treated with 400mg/kg and 200mg/kg body weight of aqueous leaf
extract of Psidium guajava respectively for 30 days and then induced with 20mg/kg
body weight of ketoconazole for 30 days. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase,
aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, total and conjugated
bilirubin, albumin and globulin were estimated. From the results obtained, administration
of only ketoconazole did not have any significant effect (p>0.05) on all the liver function
parameters studied, except for alanine aminotransferase level which was significantly
elevated (p<0.05) compared with the normal animals. Pre-treatment with Psidium
guajava at both doses of the extract studied mitigated the elevated alanine
aminotransferase levels in ketoconazole-induced rats, although the lower dose
appeared to be more effective. Pre-treatment with both doses of Psidium guajava did
not have any significant effect (p>0.05) on all the other parameters studied. This
indicates that Psidium guajava, especially at low doses, has hepatoprotective activity in
ketoconazole-treated rats.