Hepatoprotective Potential of Standardized Petroleum Ether Extract of Gymnosporia senegalensis Leaves on N-Nitroso-diethylamine-Induced Swiss Albino Mice.

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatotoxicity induced by N-nitroso diethylamine (NDEA) is associated with oxidative stress, free radical generation, and liver function impairment. Gymnosporia senegalensis is traditionally used for medicinal purposes, but its hepatoprotective potential remains underexplored.

Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of a standardized petroleum ether leaf extract of G. senegalensis against NDEA-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

Methods: The chemical profile of G. senegalensis leaf extract was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Male mice were allocated into five groups (n = 5) for 35 days: control (sterile water), NDEA control (200 mg/kg, p.o.), plant low dose (200 mg/kg, p.o.) + NDEA, plant high dose (400 mg/kg, p.o.) + NDEA, and sorafenib + NDEA. Hepatotoxicity was assessed through liver function tests, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activity, and histopathological evaluation.

Results: NDEA exposure caused marked hepatotoxicity, indicated by elevated liver enzyme levels, increased oxidative stress, and histopathological damage. Both doses of the extract, as well as sorafenib, significantly attenuated these effects, restored antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced free radical levels, and improved liver histology. The high-dose extract and sorafenib groups showed near-complete normalization of most biochemical and histological parameters.

Discussion: Current research indicates that the petroleum ether leaf (PEL) extract successfully reduced earlystage pathological alterations induced by NDEA, demonstrating the traditional therapeutic potential of G. senegalensis. Although sorafenib was used as a standard for maintaining cellular architecture, the extract's capacity to modulate oxidative markers suggests a protective function in the early phases of hepatic injury, which may slow the progression of cancer.

Conclusion: The petroleum ether extract of G. senegalensis leaves exhibits significant chemomodulatory potential against NDEA-induced injury. The reduction in oxidative stress markers and the restoration of antioxidant defenses are probably the mechanisms underlying these effects. Although these findings are encouraging, further research is needed to determine the extract's definitive chemopreventive effectiveness against hepatocellular carcinoma.