About the Author(s)


MacDonald Idu Email symbol
Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, Nigeria

Oghale Ovuakporie-Uvo symbol
Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, Nigeria

Suzan O. Okojie
Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, Nigeria

Citation


Idu, M., Ovuakporie-Uvo, O. & Okojie, S.O., 2017, ‘Protective effects of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed oil on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats’, Journal of Medicinal Plants For Economic Development 1(1), a6. https://doi.org/10.4102/jomped.v1i1.6

Original Research

Protective effects of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed oil on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

MacDonald Idu, Oghale Ovuakporie-Uvo, Suzan O. Okojie

Received: 10 Jan. 2017; Accepted: 26 June 2017; Published: 18 Aug. 2017

Copyright: © 2017. The Author(s). Licensee: AOSIS.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background: Azadirachta indica (neem) seed oil was evaluated for its hepatoprotective effect. Liver damage was induced using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) while silymarin served as a positive control.

Aim: This study is aimed at testing the hepatoprotective potentials of A. indica seed oil on Wistar rats.

Method: Hepatotoxicity was induced by the administration of 1.0 mL/kg of CCl4 subcutaneously to 72 healthy Wistar rats of both sexes (weight range: 145 g – 315 g). The seed oil of A. indica was orally administered daily in various doses of 0.25 mL/kg, 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg for 14 days. Animal body and organ weights were recorded, while blood and liver tissues were collected for biochemical, haematological and histological analyses.

Results: Treatment with neem seed oil lowered the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels significantly (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control. The haematological parameters, organ weight index and animal body weight showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) when compared with the control. Histology assessment was in agreement with the biochemical result as tissues of CCl4 exhibited significant fatty tissue accumulation, as opposed to that of 0.25 mL/kg neem treatment, which showed only moderate accumulation of fatty tissues, while higher doses, 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg, showed a healthy liver as compared with the control.

Conclusion: The result of this study revealed that neem seed oil had a dose-dependent hepatoprotective effect on the experimental rats.

Introduction

Plants serve various purposes in the world, one of which is treating various ailments. The neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) has been known as a wonder tree since time past in the Indian subcontinent. It is now known all over the world majorly because of its relevance in food production and its medicinal properties (Mugnai 2009). Neem plant is the most diverse and versatile tree with maximum useful non-wood products (leaves, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds, gum, oil and neem cake) (Uwimbabazi, Uwimana & Rutanga 2015). Neem plant popularly known as ‘village pharmacy’ contains limonoids in its seeds, bark and leaves which have been confirmed to exhibit antiseptic, antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and antifungal properties (Nix 2007).

Since time past, herbal medicine has been known as the oldest form of medicine because it is believed to be safe, gentle, accessible and cost friendly (Abebe 2002). However, a standard dose for these herbal drugs is not established and may result in its minimised potential (lesser dosage) or toxicity effect (excess dosage). The physiological activities of neem (A. indica) leaf meal and the responses of rabbits at graded doses have been reported to have mild to moderately toxic effects (Ogbuewu 2008). A 24-hLD50 of 14 mg/kg for acute toxicity in rats has been earlier reported for neem leaf meal. Gomase, Rangari and Verma (2011) reported that young stem bark extract of A. indica plant protected the liver of rats induced with carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) using silymarin as a positive control. Doses of 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of A. indica stem bark extract were reported to steady the functional status of liver cells. Also, neem leaf extract has been observed to provide hepatoprotective effects against paracetamol-induced hepatic cell damage in rats (Gupta, Khosla & Singh 2008). However, the present study aims at investigating the hepatoprotective activity of neem seed oil in rats induced with liver damage using CCL4.

Materials and methods

Source of oil

Fresh neem oil (cold pressed) was purchased from Kano State, Nigeria. The oil was authenticated by Professor MacDonald Idu at the herbarium of the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin. The oil was kept in a cool and dry place throughout the duration of the experiment.

Experimental animals

A total of 24 albino rats of both sexes, 4 animals per group with weight range of 145 g – 315 g, were used for the study. The animals were purchased from a local dealer. They were housed in clean, disinfected cages and allowed free access to feed during the period of the experiment. The animal quarter was a cool and dry place, and animals observed a light–dark cycle. The animals were allowed to acclimatise to the new environment (animal house) for two weeks before the experiment. The animals were fed on pelletised grower mash and clean water. For the purpose of the study, the animals were divided into six groups comprising four animals each. The animals were identified, stained and weighed every three days throughout the duration of the work.

Experimental design

The CCl4 solution was prepared by mixing 0.2 mL of CCL4 with olive oil (1:1). The prepared solution was administered to the animals using a dose of 1 mg/kg. All administration of neem oil and silymarin was done orally using an oral gastric tube.

All administration of CCl4 was carried out subcutaneously using sterile disposable needles.

Group 1 control animals received no form of administration.

Group 2 animals were administered CCl4 only.

Group 3 animals were administered silymarin after CCl4 treatment.

Group 4 animals were administered neem oil (0.25 mL/kg) after CCl4 treatment.

Group 5 animals were administered neem oil (0.5 mL/kg) after being treated with CCl4.

Group 6 animals were administered neem oil (1 mL/kg) after being treated with CCl4.

At the end of the two-week experimental period, the animals were fasted overnight prior to the administration of CCl4 except for the control group. This was done for rapid absorption and metabolism of the administered CCl4. Then, animals were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia to collect their blood samples through cardiac puncture. The livers, heart, left and right kidneys, spleen and lungs were collected and weighed. The livers were further placed in sterile bottles containing 40% formaldehyde for subsequent analysis. The blood sample collected from the sacrificed animal was transferred immediately into a lithium heparinised container to avoid clotting, and centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 5 min. After which the supernatant was transferred into a clean tube using a Pasteur pipette for subsequent liver function test. Histopathology was carried out on the harvested liver. The tissues were placed in molten paraffin wax and separated, stained with haematoxylin and eosin and were examined under a light microscope. A photomicroscope (Motic, Canada) was used to take pictures of the micrographs at magnification 100x.

Statistical analysis

Data were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan multiple comparisons post-test to separate between the means. Data from the test groups were compared with their respective controls and the differences at P < 0.05 were regarded as significant.

Results

Neem seed oil at 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mL/kg significantly lowered the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in a dose-dependent manner when compared with the control. AST, ALT and ALP levels of CCl4-treated rats increased significantly (P < 0.05) when compared with the control. All doses of neem oil, positive control and negative control had no significant impact on the total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) levels when compared with the control (Table 1). No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed in all haematological parameters for animals treated with all doses of neem oil, positive and negative control when compared with the control (Table 2).

TABLE 1: Effects of neem seed oil on biochemical parameters of Wistar rats pretreated with CCl4 (U/g of wet tissue).
TABLE 2: Effect of neem seed oil on haematological parameters of Wistar rats pretreated with CCl4 (U/g of wet tissue).

Gross examination of animal organs, livers, hearts, spleens, left kidneys, right kidneys and lungs, shows that there was no significant difference (P < 0.05) in all animal groups when compared with the control (Table 3). Also, the recorded body weight of animals at various days had no significant difference across the various groups (Table 4).

TABLE 3: Effects of neem seed oil on organ weight index (g) of Wistar rats pretreated with CCl4.
TABLE 4: Effects of neem seed oil on body weight of Wistar rats pretreated with CCl4.

Fatty liver tissues are evident on CCl4-treated animals only (Figure 1b), whereas moderate to mild fatty liver tissues were observed in silymarin (Figure 1c) and 0.25 mL/kg neem oil–treated rats (Figure 1d). Normal liver cells radially arranged around portal tracts and central veins were evident in 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg of neem oil–treated animals (Figure 1e and f), which are similar to control.

FIGURE 1: (a) Section of rat liver from control rats showing control rat with normal liver cells radially arranged around portal tracts (blue arrows) and central veins (black arrows) (100x). (b) Rat liver from negative control (CCl4 administration alone) with accumulation of fat in the cytoplasm of liver cells (blue arrows) (100x). (c) Rat liver from positive control (CCl4 + silymarin) showing fatty change (blue arrow) (100x). (d) Liver section from rats treated with Azadirachta indica oil extract (0.25 mL/kg) and CCl4 showing fatty change (blue arrow) (100x). (e) Liver section from rats treated with Azadirachta indica oil extract (0.5 mL/kg) and CCl4 showing normal liver cells radially arranged around portal tracts (blue arrow) and central veins (black arrow) (100x). (f) Liver section from rats treated with Azadirachta indica oil extract (1.0 mL/kg) and CCl4 showing normal liver cells radially arranged around central veins (black arrows) (100x)

Discussion

Carbon tetrachloride can cause liver damage at 0.5 mL/kg body weight (Hewawasam et al. 2004), which was less than the dose administered in this study. Some plants have been shown to have protective effects against organ damage, especially those caused by daily exposure to toxins (Amole & Ilori 2010). In the present study, the total bilirubin level increased significantly (P < 0.05) in serum of animals administered with CCl4 and those co-administered with CCl4 and silymarin as compared to the control. However, the lower the dose of the neem seed oil, the more the total bilirubin decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with the control. These observations are in line with the research findings of Prakash et al. (2008), suggesting that neem oil is more potent than the control drug in maintaining total bilirubin in animals. Conjugate bilirubin increased significantly (P < 0.05) in 1.0 mL/kg of neem oil treatment when compared with control animals. However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the conjugated bilirubin across the other groups. TP and ALB had no significant difference (P > 0.05) across the various groups, showing that CCl4, silymarin and neem oil had no effect on the animals’ TP and ALB in this study. However, globulin of animals with CCl4 treatment only and neem seed oil treatment (1.0 mL/kg) had no significant difference with that of the control group. Animals treated with 0.25 mL/kg and 0.5 mL/kg neem oil had a significantly different (P < 0.05) globulin level from that of the control.

AST (Range: 108–168), ALT (Range: 56–116) and ALP (Range: 45–105) values significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the CCl4 group. This is in agreement with Kumar et al. (2009), Kaplowitz (2004), Kelly and Skidmore (2002), Basu (2003), Manibusan, Odin and Eastmond (2007) and Planaguma et al. (2005) who reported significant increase in the enzyme activity on administration of CCl4. The reduction of the ALT, AST and ALP values decreased with increase in dose of neem oil when compared with the CCl4 group only. More so, silymarin-treated groups had reduced ALT, AST and ALP values when compared with the control. This suggests that neem oil is more active at a higher dose (1.0 mL/kg) and more effective than silymarin (a known hepatoprotective drug).

There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the haematological parameters in all groups. This observation suggests that neem oil (dose: 0.25 mL/kg, 0.5 mL/kg, 1.0 mL/kg), CCl4 (1 mL/kg) and silymarin (1 mg/kg) had no effect on the haematological parameters. The organ weight index and animal body weight were insignificant (P > 0.05) across the various groups in this study. This observation suggests that neem seed oil, CCl4 and silymarin had no effect on organ weight and body weight.

Histological studies of liver tissues in each group are in agreement with the biochemical result in this study. High fat accumulation and massive necrosis were observed in the liver tissue of animal group administered with CCl4 only. However, groups treated with silymarin and 0.25 mg/kg neem oil had a moderate fatty liver. In addition, liver tissues of control and 1.0 mg/kg of neem oil–treated group had a normal liver. This suggests that the neem oil dose 1.0 mL/kg is more effective than the lower doses in protecting the liver against CCl4 damage. This might be because of the presence of some phytocompounds present in neem, which improve the ability of the liver to detoxify itself of chemical contamination (Ogbuewu et al. 2011).

This study reveals that neem oil is hepatoprotective (0.25 mL/kg, 0.5 mL/kg, 1.0 mL/kg) but might become toxic at a comparatively higher dose. Neem seed oil has been reported to show acute toxicity in rats and rabbits with LD50 of 14 mg/kg and 24 mg/kg, respectively, possibly targeting organs for toxic effects, especially the central nervous system and the lungs (Gandhi et al. 1988).

Conclusion

In conclusion, A. indica oil extract showed hepatoprotective activities. The activities were graded dose dependent. Furthermore, the hepatoprotective function of neem oil was comparable to the standard drug (silymarin). However, more work needs to be carried out on determining the toxicity profile (biosafety) of neem seed oil.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Mr Dickson for his assistance in the lab. They also appreciate Alhaji Rano for his assistance in helping them purchase locally extracted neem oil from Kano State, Nigeria.

Competing interest

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships which may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

Authors’ contributions

M.I. designed this study and gave directions for its implementation. O.U-.O. helped to organise the results, proofread the final draft of the article and put it in the journal format. S.O.O. carried out the bench work with laboratory assistants and wrote the first draft of this article.

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