Hepatocellular and liver enzyme responses to Tetrapleura tetraptera and Jatropha curcas (polyherbal TJ) exposure in experimental rats

InformationPolyherbal formulations are increasingly used in traditional medicine due to their perceived therapeutic synergy; however, their hepatic safety profiles remain inadequately characterized.This study evaluated hepatocellular integrity and liver enzyme responses following exposure to aqueous extracts of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit and Jatropha curcas leaves, administered singly and in combination, in rats.Twenty-four adult female Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups: control, T. tetraptera (200 mg/kg), J. curcas (400 mg/kg), and a combined extract group receiving T. tetraptera fruit extract (200 mg/kg) and J. curcas leaf extract (400 mg/kg) in a fixed ratio of 1:2 (T.tetraptera: J. curcas).The treatments were administered orally for 28 consecutive days.Body weight, absolute and relative liver weights were recorded, while serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were quantified.Liver tissues were examined histologically using hematoxylin and eosin staining.No significant differences were observed in body weight gain, liver weight indices, or serum liver enzyme activities among the treated groups compared to the control group.Histological evaluation revealed preserved hepatic architecture across all groups, characterized by intact hepatocytes with eosinophilic cytoplasm, centrally placed normochromic nuclei, and well-defined sinusoidal spaces, with no evidence of necrosis, inflammation, or structural distortion.The combined extract group also demonstrated intact portal and lobular organization.The findings indicate that aqueous extracts of T. tetraptera fruit and J. curcas leaves, administered individually or in combination at the tested doses, did not induce hepatotoxic effects.These results support the hepatic tolerance and short-term safety of the T. tetraptera fruit and J. curcas leaf polyherbal TJ formulation under controlled experimental conditions.