Investigating the Therapeutic Effects of Commelina diffusa (Dayflower) Aqueous Extract on Doxorubicin-induced Hepatic Dysfunction in Rats

Doxorubicin (DOXO) is one of the most dreaded antineoplastic medications often recommended for many malignancies. This study investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Commelina diffusa on doxorubicin-induced hepatic dysfunction in rats. Twenty-five Wistar rats weighing between 160 and 200g were used for this study. The rats were divided into five groups of five rats per group. Groups 1 and 2 served as normal and negative controls, received rat feed and 50mg/kg doxorubicin once, respectively. Rats in group 3-5 were intraperitoneally administered 50mg/kg doxorubicin and treated with Commelina diffusa extract at 166, 250, and 500mg/kg body weight for 21 days. All renal makers were determined based on standard methods. The mean total protein level of the negative control was 29.80±0.02g/L, while the mean homogenate AST, ALP, and ALT activities were 107.54±0.03U/L, 87.69±0.02U/L, and 71.85±0.03U/L, respectively and were significantly decreased in comparison to the normal control. The mean total protein level of the extract treated at 500mg/kg for 21 days was 31.63±0.04g/L, while those of AST, ALP, and ALT activities were 64.36±0.03U/L, 46.26±0.03U/L, and 41.65±0.03U/L, respectively and were significantly increased in comparison to the negative control. The mean homogenate GPx, CAT, and SOD activities of the negative control were 25.04±0.03IU/g, 31.53±0.03mg/pro.min, and 3.64±0.03mg/g, respectively. The mean homogenate GPx, CAT, and SOD activities of rats treated with extract at 500mg/kg for 21 days were 28.33±0.02IU/g, 37.43±0.02mg/pro.min, and 5.74±0.03mg/g, respectively and were significantly different from the negative control. Commelina diffusa extract at 500mg/kg ameliorated the damage elicited by doxorubicin on the liver tissue, hence could serve as a herbal agent in the treatment of liver dysfunction. Future studies should explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the hepatoprotective effects of Commelina diffusa, particularly its interaction with oxidative stress pathways, inflammatory mediators, and apoptotic markers.