Effects of Gardenia Ternifolia Leaf Extract on antioxidant and hepatic enzymes in sniper-induced toxicity in Albino rats

Aim: This study evaluates the effects of Gardenia ternifolia leaf extract on antioxidant and hepatic enzymes in sniper-induced toxicity in albino rats.
Methodology: A total of 42 male albino rats weighing 120g to 150g, grouped into 6 groups of 7rats each. Group 1 (Negative control), Group 2 (Positive control), Group 3 (Therapeutic Low Dose), Group 4 (Therapeutic High Dose), Group 5 (Prophylactic Low Dose) and Group 6 (Prophylactic High Dose). After 4 weeks of treatment, the rats were anaesthetized, sacrificed and blood samples collected. The Liver was also harvested for histological analysis. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were estimated using a rat-specific sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were carried out using Reitman Frankel method. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was carried out using colorimetric phenolphthalein method. The liver tissue was prepared and stained using standard Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) staining technique and captured using scope TekTM device.
Results: The mean SOD and GPx values for the therapeutic and prophylactic groups were significantly higher (P <.05) when compared with the positive control. The mean SOD and GPx values in the therapeutic groups were not significantly different (P >.05) from the negative control.  The mean ALT, AST and ALP values for the therapeutic and prophylactic groups were significantly lower (P <.05) than the positive control but significantly higher (P <.05) than the negative control. Histology analysis of liver indicated normal histoarchitecture in the negative control while in the positive control, there were severe cell degeneration, distortion, necrosis and death of the hepatocytes. The Therapeutic Low Dose and Prophylactic Low Dose groups indicated severe degeneration and hypertrophy of hepatocytes. The Therapeutic High Dose and Prophylactic High Dose groups showed less deposit, well delineated radiating hepatocytes and near normal cytoarchitecture.
Conclusion: Administration of Sniper® (dichlorvos) led to an increase in oxidative stress; depletion of antioxidant enzyme levels. It elevated liver enzymes levels, caused histopathological changes and death of cells in the liver. The treatment with leaf extract of Gardenia ternifolia ameliorated the effect of dichlorvos toxicity, restored the anti-oxidant and liver enzyme levels especially the high dose extract.