PURPLE SWEET POTATO EXTRACT ATTENUATES GENTAMICIN-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Purple sweet potato extract (Ipomoea batatas L.) has hepatoprotective potential due to its antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the effect of purple sweet potato extract (PSPE) on gentamicin-induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar rats. Thirty rats were divided into five groups: negative control, positive control, and PSPE-treated groups receiving 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight (BW). Hepatotoxicity was induced using gentamicin for seven days, followed by extract administration for fourteen days. Caspase-3 expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry, while fibrosis was assessed using Masson’s Trichrome staining and METAVIR scoring. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences in Caspase-3 expression among groups (p ¡ 0.001). PSPE was associated with reduced Caspase-3 expression and attenuated hepatic fibrosis, with the strongest effect observed at 200 mg/kgBW. Histopathological evaluation showed predominantly METAVIR grade F0 fibrosis at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kgBW. These findings suggest potential hepatoprotective effects of PSPE in this preclinical model of gentamicin-inducedhepatotoxicity.