This study evaluated the effect of Persea americana seed extract on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) induced hepatic histoxicity in Wistar rats. A total of 77 Wistar rats were used in this study, 72 were treated intraperitonially with a single dose of 150mg/kg of 5-FU to induce liver toxicity and these animals were thereafter divided into six groups (2-7). The five (5) animals in group 1 which were not exposed to 5-FU served as control, Group 2 served as negative control, those in group 3 were administered with the medium dose of vitamin C at 500mg/kg while groups 4-6 received 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg of the extract respectively and those in group 7 received the medium dose of vitamin C and the extract orally. Each group from 2-7 had 12 animals, 3 animals were sacrificed from each group at weekly interval for 4 weeks and their blood and tissues were collected for biochemical and histological analysis. It was observed that the administration of 5-FU caused hepatic toxicity which was evidenced by histological alterations as well as increase in the levels of liver function parameters including Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Alanine transaminase (ALT). On the contrary, administration of the extract reversed the adverse effects caused by 5-FU.
Keywords: 5-fluorouracil, Persea americana seed, hepatic-histotoxicity, liver function parameters
