Ameliorating Effects of Aqueous Extract of Pawpaw Leaf (Carica Papaya) on Albumin on Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rat

Abstract

Carica papaya, commonly known as pawpaw, is a tropical plant widely utilized in traditional medicine across various cultures. Different parts of the plant, including its leaves, are used for their therapeutic benefits. In Africa, particularly in rural Nigeria, traditional medicine plays a crucial role in healthcare delivery due to limited access to conventional medical resources. Among populations with lower socioeconomic status. The aim of this study is to determined the ameliorating effects of aqueous extract of pawpaw leaf (Carica Papaya) on Albumin on paracetamol induced hypatotoxicity in wistar rat. Fifteen (15) a wistar rats were taken and randomly divided into five (5) groups (Group-1, Group-2, Group-3, Group-4, and Group-5), each group formed of three (3) rats. The first day the rats were acclimatized only took distilled water and fed. From day 2- day 7, the rats in group 2,3,4, and 5 were administered with paracetamol suspension given by oral route at a single dose of 2g/kg body weight to all the rats daily except the animals in group 1. This was done for the induction of liver toxicity. Subsequently, the aqueous extract was administered according to the dosage per body weight for 2weeks. Group-1 rats served as a control group received water and feed only throughout the experimental period. Group-2 rats were given 2g of paracetamol per kg body weight per day for 1week only. Group-3 rats were administered 2g of paracetamol per kg body weight per day for 1week, then 0.5ml of the aqueous extract per kg body weight per day for 2 weeks. Group-4 rats received 2g of paracetamol per kg body weight per day for 1week, then 1ml of the aqueous extract per kg body weight per day for 2weeks and Group-5 rats received 2g of paracetamol per kg body weight per day for 1week, then 2ml of the aqueous extract per kg body weight per day for 2 weeks. Data obtained was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics was used. Mean and standard deviation of quantitative variables were analysed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the difference within and among groups. This was followed by post hoc t-test to determine the level of significance. P of < 0.05 was used to determine the level of statistical significance. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) IBM version 23 was used as the statistical software for analysis. This present study findings indicate that pawpaw leaf extract holds medicinal potential to ameliorate paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats, with efficacy observed at doses around 1–2 ml/kg body weight. Lower doses (e.g., 0.5 ml/kg) may offer limited protection and may require a longer duration to demonstrate measurable biochemical improvements.