Abstract

*Said S. S., Abdullahi M. A. and Dambazau S. M.

ABSTRACT

The value of medicinal plants to mankind is very well proven and forms the basis ofhealth care worldwide, having significant role in international trade. This study wascarried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of the hydroethanolic leafextract of Mentha piperita on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) inrat. Twenty-four albino rats were used in the study, and were divided into four (4)groups, six (6) rats each in group I, II, III and IV. The rats in the first group werenot induced, they served as positive control, whereas rats in groups II, III, and IVwere induced with liver injury using 120 mg/kg CCl4, using standard methodology.Rats in group II were not administered mint leaf extract but were administered10mg/kg Livolin, and they served as negative control. Rats in groups III and IVwere administered with a daily dose of 500mg and 1000mg /kg body weight of mintleaves extract. Two (2) rats were removed from each group after 2, 5 and 8 days ofmint leaf extracts treatment respectively and sacrificed. Blood and liver sampleswere collected for Biochemical and Histopathological studies. The study has shownthat mint leaf extracts has hepatocurative effect at the dose of 1000mg/kg in 8 daysof administration. Histopathological study showed intense vacuolation, hepaticnecrosis and haemorrhage in CCl4 pretreated group. The study shows that mintsextracts have hepatoprotective effects against CCl4 induced liver injury.