Protective effects of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed oil on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

Background: Azadirachta indica (neem) seed oil was evaluated for its hepatoprotective effect. Liver damage was induced using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) while silymarin served as a positive control.Aim: This study is aimed at testing the hepatoprotective potentials of A. indica seed oil on Wistar rats.Method: Hepatotoxicity was induced by the administration of 1.0 mL/kg of CCl4 subcutaneously to 72 healthy Wistar rats of both sexes (weight range: 145 g – 315 g). The seed oil of A. indica was orally administered daily in various doses of 0.25 mL/kg, 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg for 14 days. Animal body and organ weights were recorded, while blood and liver tissues were collected for biochemical, haematological and histological analyses.Results: Treatment with neem seed oil lowered the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels significantly (P 0.05) when compared with the control. Histology assessment was in agreement with the biochemical result as tissues of CCl4 exhibited significant fatty tissue accumulation, as opposed to that of 0.25 mL/kg neem treatment, which showed only moderate accumulation of fatty tissues, while higher doses, 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg, showed a healthy liver as compared with the control.Conclusion: The result of this study revealed that neem seed oil had a dose-dependent hepatoprotective effect on the experimental rats.