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Background: Liver diseases are increasingly recognized as significant public health issues, with cirrhosis alone ranking 12th as the leading cause of death worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-fibrotic effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Crinum distichum (CDE) in male Wistar rats with Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis. Methods: Phytochemical profiling of CDE was assessed through High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) analysis. Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: control group, CCl4-intoxicated group, and CCl4-intoxicated group + sylimarin (100 mg/kg body weight (b.w)) group, 3 other CCl4-intoxicated groups receiving different doses of CDE at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w, respectively. Liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 50% CCl4 (2 mL/kg b.w) dissolved in olive oil twice a week for 6 weeks. Afterward, animals were orally treated once per day with CDE or silymarin for 7 or 14 consecutive days. Animals were sacrificed, and biochemical parameters related to liver damage and liver histology were assessed at each time point. Student's t-test or One-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s post hoc test using Graphpad Prism software was used to analyze the data obtained. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Verbaboside, citroside A, Apigenin 7-O-(6''-O-acetylglucoside), and 9,12,13-TriHOME were the phytochemicals successfully identified in CDE. The treatment of CCl4-intoxicated rats with CDE significantly (p<0.05) decreased serum activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, as well as hepatic content of triglycerides and total cholesterol, as compared to CCl4-intoxicated and non-treated animals. Similarly, in CCl4-intoxicated rats, CDE treatment significantly (p<0.05) decreased hepatic content of malondialdehyde, restored the activity of antioxidant superoxide dismutase and catalase, and preserved the normal liver architecture. Conclusion: Our findings highlighted the ability of CDE to reverse CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats, and subsequently valorized C. distichum as a potential source of active ingredients for the treatment of liver fibrosis, though further in-depth investigations are necessary to confirm their anti-fibrotic effects.

Introduction. The elimination of onchocerciasis is hampered by the absence of suitable drugs that are effective against adult filariae. This study is aimed at assessing the anti-onchocercal effects of extracts of Scoparia dulcis and Cylicodiscus gabunensis that could serve as drug leads against onchocerciasis. Methods. Different parts of the plants (Scoparia dulcis and Cylicodiscus gabunensis) were extracted with hexane, methylene chloride, and methanol. The extracts were tested in vitro against the bovine model parasite, Onchocerca ochengi. Adult female worm viability was determined biochemically by MTT/formazan colorimetry, while the adult male and microfilariae viability were determined by microscopy based on inhibition of worm motility score. Cytotoxicity and acute toxicity of active extracts were tested on monkey kidney epithelial cells (LLC-MK2) and Balb/C mice, respectively. Results. The hexane extract of Scoparia dulcis recorded the highest activity, with IC_50s of 50.78μg/ml on both adult male and female worms and 3.91μg/ml on microfilariae. For Cylicodiscus gabunensis extract, the highest activity was seen with the methylene chloride extract, with IC_50s of 50.78μg/ml, 62.50μg/ml, and 16.28μg/ml on, respectively, adult male, female, and microfilariae. The 50 cytotoxic concentration on the LLC-MK2 cells was 31.25μg/ml for the most active extracts. No acute toxicity was recorded for the extracts. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, saponins, phenols, and glycosides. Conclusion. This study validates the traditional use of these plants in treating onchocerciasis and suggests S. dulcis and C. gabunensis as new potential sources for the isolation of anti-onchocerca lead compounds.