Methanolic Leaf Extract of Diospyros chloroxylon Modulates Hepatic Redox Profile and Cell Proliferation in Dimethylamine-treated Rats

Dimethylamine (DMA) is a toxicant commonly present in foods, air and water. Diospyros species is a group of plants being reported to contain several bioactive agents. The study was aimed at investigating the biological activities of Diospyros chloroxylon leaf extract (DCLE) on DMA-induced toxicity in liver of Wistar rats. The DMA significantly (p < 0.05) reduced serum Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities by 43.9% and 60.6%, while malondialdehyde (MDA) was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) elevated by 150% compared with controls. Hepatic SOD and catalase activities, and reduced glutathione (GSH) level were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by 49.9%, 32% and 26.3%, respectively, while MDA level was increased by 94.5% in DMA group against controls. The DCLE significantly (p < 0.05) increased SOD and catalase activities, and lowered MDA level in serum and liver against DMA treatment. DNA fragmentation was observed to be significantly elevated by 42.5% in DMA-treated rats compared with controls. Pretreatment with DCLE significantly (p < 0.05) lowered DNA fragmentation in the [DCLE + DMA] group. Histological data reveal that DMA caused periportal cell infiltration in hepatocytes, whereas the control, DCLE and [DCLE + DMA] groups showed no visible lesion. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of CD34 showed a strong expression in DMA group, while DCLE + DMA] showed a moderate expression. This study thus suggests that methanolic leaf extract of Diospyros chloroxylon ameliorates oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell proliferation in liver of rats treated with Dimethylamine.