Hepatotoxicity Following Concurrent Administration of Aqueous Extract of Azadirachta Indica Leaf (Neem Leaf) and Chloroquine Sulphate in Rabbits

Background: Recently herbal medications have been introduced into modern health scheme for the treatment of diseases. Aqueous extract of A. indica is commonly used in treatment of malaria in combination with chloroquine, especially now that a combined therapy is said to be more effective. Objectves: This study is designed to investigate the effects of aqueous extract of A. indica leaf and concomitant administration of chloroquine sulphate+aqueous extract of A. indica leaf on the weight and liver cells of rabbit. Methods: Eight adult male rabbits with average weight range between 1.29 kg-1.52 kg obtained from department of Zoology University of Ekpoma, Edo state, Nigeria, were used for this study. They were weighed at intervals of five days before and after the experiment. They were randomly divided into four groups (A-D) of two rabbits each. The chloroquine and aqueous extract of A. indica leaf was administered to the animals orally via a cannula inserted through the oral cavity. They were treated as follows, group A received (15 mg/kg dry extract solution of aqueous extract of A. indica), Group B received (15 mg/kg of chloroquine sulphate), group C received (100 mg/mL dry extract solution of aqueous extract of A. indica+15 mg/kg of chloroquine sulphate and the control animals (group D) were given normal saline. Both treatment and control animals were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. The liver was carefully dissected out and immediately fixed in Bouin’s fluid for histological studies. Results: Groups A-D animals showed normal liver histoarchitecture and increase in weight: 2.1% (group A), 1.4% (group B), 0.7%, (group C) and 1.4% (group D) respectively. When the average weight increase by the treated animals was compared to the average weight increase by the control animals, it was statistically not significant (p>0.6). Conclusions: Our findings revealed that aqueous extract of A. indica leaf has no effect on the histology of the liver and weight of adult male rabbits, even when it is administered concomitantly with chloroquine sulphate at a reported and recommended safe dose.