LAUSR

Background Crassocephalum vitellinum is widely used by traditional medical practitioners and local people in East Africa to manage a large number of ailments including hepatitis 1. However, its hepatoprotective effects had not been evaluated prior to this study. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an ethanolic leaf extract of Crassocephalum vitellinum against rifampicin-induced liver toxicity in Wistar rats. Methods Increasing doses of an ethanolic leaf extract of C. vitellinum were administered to Wistar rats daily for 35 days, together with rifampicin given orally as suspension. After the treatment period, Assessment of hepatoprotective activity was done by analysis of serum levels of biochemical and histopathological effects on the liver. Results The results showed that administration of C. vitellinum extract significantly prevented drug- induced increase in serum levels of liver biomarker enzymes and also decreased the hepatocellular necrosis and inflammatory cells infiltration. Conclusion The plant extract loweres the liver biomarker enzymes (ALT, ALP, AST) and preserves the histomorphology of the hepatocytes which is suggestive that the plant possess hepatoprotective properties.