Background: Cassava leaf contains many kinds of flavonoids, most of flavonoids function as effective antioxidants
in vivo. The protective
effects of cassava (
Manihot esculenta Crantz
) leaf flavonoid extracts on liver damage were evaluated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl
4)-induced
injury in mice.
Materials and Methods: The protective effects of cassava leaf flavonoid extracts on liver damage were evaluated using CCl
4-induced injury in
mice. The mice were weighted to calculate sample quantity of mice. Bloods were taken to evaluate ALT and AST of serums. Livers were excised
and weighted, and fixed for pathological observation. Prepared 10% liver tissue homogenate was used to evaluate MDA, SOD, GSH-PX levels.
Results: Cassava leaf flavonoid extracts significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the relative liver weight when compared with the CCl
4-treated group.
The contents of ALT and AST in serum of experiment mice declined significantly when compared to those of the CCl
4-treated group, but did not
reach normal levels of control group. Pathological observation of livers showed that cassava leaf flavonoid extracts significantly ameliorated the
CCl
4-induced pathological changes.
Conclusion: These results provided biological evidence that cassava leaf flavonoid extracts indeed expressed potential efficacy of prohibiting liver
injury in mice.
