Comparative evaluation of Caesalpinia bonducella leaf extract in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity: Insights from lipid and protein peroxidation, DNA damage and histopathology

Background: Caesalpinia bonducella (CB) leaves, exhibiting diversified remedial impact, offering a wide range of restorative benefits, still need scientific validation due to the scarcity of reported information using in-vivo, multi-solvent-based strategies (Aqueous, Methanol, Acetone) for thorough phytochemical analysis on hepatoxicity model. As oxidative stress underlies hepatic deterioration, scientific investigations are increasingly turning to natural alternatives, especially phytochemical-based antioxidants, for the restoration of liver pathologies. Objectives: The current investigation was undertaken to explore the restorative potential of CB leaf extracts in CCl4-mediated Hepatotoxicity in rats. Methods: Thirty-six male rats, six groups, 40-day CCl4 treatment. Hepatotoxicity was induced with CCl4 (0.8 ml/kg b.w.) twice weekly. The CB leaf extract groups III to V received CCl4 with aqueous, methanolic and acetonic extracts (100mg/kg b.w., daily) respectively; however, group VI received Silymarin (25mg/kg b.w., daily). The principal biomarkers investigated included liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT), enzymatic antioxidants (catalase, SOD, GSH), lipid peroxidation markers (MDA, 4-HNE, 8-isoprostane), protein oxidation (carbonyls) and DNA damage indicators (8-oHdG, BPDE–DNA adducts). Histological evaluation was conducted to determine the extent of liver damage. Results: The acetonic extract group showed a significant reduction in AST and ALT levels, whereas the aqueous group showed comparable results for ALP and ?-GT levels. Methanolic, acetonic and aqueous extracts restored Catalase, SOD, GSH levels. The MDA and 4-HNE levels were significantly decreased in the acetonic extract group, whereas the methanolic extract group showed the significant reduction in 8-isoprostane levels compared with the CCl4-treated group. Notably, this study is the first to report modulation of protein carbonyl, 8-oHdG and BPDE-DNA adducts by CB leaf extracts. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings highlight the hepatoprotective and antioxidant efficacy of Caesalpinia bonducella leaf extracts, with solvent-specific yet complementary mechanisms that mitigate hepatic oxidative stress, supporting their potential as natural hepatoprotective agents.