Hepatoprotective Effects of Ethyl Acetate Extract of <i>Lygodium microphyllum</i> Leaves

Abstract

Background: Lygodium microphyllum is traditionally used in Chinese medicine as a decoction to treat hepatitis. Objectives: This study evaluated the in vivo hepatoprotective efficacy and optimal dose of the ethyl acetate extract of L. microphyllum leaves (EALM) against paracetamol-induced liver injury. Methods: A pilot experiment was conducted in 24 male Wistar rats divided into six groups: a normal control group, a paracetamol control group (3 g/kg body weight [BW]), and three EALM groups (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg BW). EALM was administered orally for 14 days, and paracetamol was administered once on day 8. The evaluated parameters included body weight, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and liver histopathology. Paracetamol intoxication caused significant weight loss and increased AST and ALT levels (P < 0.0001). Results: All EALM doses significantly attenuated paracetamol-induced enzyme elevations. Histopathological analysis revealed severe injury, including pyknosis, in the paracetamol group, whereas EALM-treated livers maintained near-normal morphology. Among the tested doses, 200 mg/kg BW showed the most pronounced protective effect. Conclusions: These findings indicate that EALM has significant hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity.