Hepatoprotective activity of the extract of Homalium letestui stem against paracetamol-induced liver injury

Homalium letestui Pellegr (Flacourtiaceae) is used traditionally by the Ibibios of Southern Nigeria to treat stomach ulcer, malaria and other inflammatory diseases and Yorubas of western Nigeria as an antidote. The hepatoprotective effect of the stem extract (200-600 mg/kg) was evaluated by the assay of liver function parameters, namely total and direct bilirubin, serum protein and albumin, total cholesterol, alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase activities (ALP), antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH) and histopathological study of the liver. GCMS analysis of n-butanol fraction was carried out. Administration of the stem extract caused a significant (p