Chinedu Happiness Uzoagulu1,
Paul Chinwuba2 
,
Kingsley Onyeka Okoro3
For correspondence:- Paul Chinwuba Email: paulchinwuba1@gmail.com Tel:+2347031832066
Received: 5 January 2026 Accepted: 13 May 2026 Published: 31 May 2026
Citation: Uzoagulu CH, Chinwuba P, Okoro KO. Hepatoprotective effect of the methanol fraction of Cuminum cyminum against acetaminophen-induced toxicity in rats. Trop J Pharm Res 2026; 25(5):681-691 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v25i5.10
© 2026 The authors.
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Purpose: To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of methanol fraction of Cuminum cyminum leaves (MFCCL) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury in rats, and to characterize its bioactive polyphenolic constituents. Methods: Dried leaves of C. cyminum were extracted with 80 % methanol and partitioned to obtain methanol fraction. Quantitative phytochemical analysis and Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) profiling were performed. Acute toxicity was tested in mice (n = 3 per group) using standard methods. For hepatoprotective study, 48 male Wistar rats (150 – 200 g) were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 8). Groups 1 (normal control) and 2 (hepatotoxic control) received distilled water (2 mL/kg). Group 3 received silymarin (200 mg/kg). Groups 4 – 6 received MFCCL (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively). All treatments were administered orally once daily for seven days, 30 min before daily APAP administration (400 mg/kg, p.o.). On day 8, blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Results: The MFCCL was rich in flavonoids (53.11 mg/100g) and tannins (3846.67 mg/100g). GC-FID identified isoflavones (25.02 %), flavonones (12.90 %), and gallocatechin (11.86 %) as major polyphenols. Acute toxicity test showed no mortality up to 5000 mg/kg. The serum of APAP-only treated rats exhibited significant (p < 0.05) elevations in liver enzymes, total bilirubin, and hepatic malondialdehyde, with concomitant depletion of antioxidant enzymes and GSH. Pretreatment with MFCCL significantly (p < 0.05) reversed these alterations, restored antioxidant status, and preserved hepatic architecture comparable to silymarin. Conclusion: Methanol fraction of Cuminum cyminum leaves exhibits significant hepatoprotective effect against APAP-induced liver injury, mediated through its polyphenolic constituents and antioxidant mechanisms, supporting its potential as a safe therapeutic agent for drug-induced hepatotoxicity.
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