TITLE:
Investigation of the Effects of Monodora myristica Seeds (Annonaceae) against Liver Dysfunctions and Oxidative Stress on Paracetamol-Intoxicated Wistar Rats
AUTHORS:
Djanche Duplex Bonheur Youmbie, Mahamat Oumar, Sanda Antoine Kada, Cynthia Mata Ndikum
KEYWORDS:
Liver, Paracetamol, Oxidative Stress, Monodora myristica
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.16 No.4,
October
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: The seeds and bark of Monodora myristica are used in traditional Cameroonian medicine to treat various ailments, such as fevers and kidney and liver infections. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous seeds extract of Monodora myristica against liver dysfunctions and oxidative stress on paracetamol-intoxicated rats. Thirty rats including males and females were divided into 6 groups of 5 each: Group 1 (normal control) received distilled water (5 mL/kg); Group 2 (negative control) received paracetamol (2 g/kg) and distilled water (5 mL/kg); Group 3 (positive control) received paracetamol (2 g/kg) and silymarin (25 mg/kg); Groups 4, 5 and 6 received paracetamol (2 g/kg) followed by the aqueous seeds extract at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg, respectively. Our results demonstrated that paracetamol caused significant adverse effects on body weight, biochemical parameters, the oxidant-antioxidant balance, and liver histopathology in negative control rats compared to normal control. Treatment with the aqueous extract at 300 mg/kg significantly increased body weight (154 vs 141 g) compared with the negative control (p M. myristica seeds has therapeutic and antioxidant effects.