Journal of Innovative Pharma and Drug Sciences | Volume 1 Issue 1 | Pages: 1-13 | Doi : 10.37446/jipds/ed/1.1.2026.1-13

Research Article

OPEN ACCESS | Published on : 30-Jun-2026

Hepatoprotective effect of high dose of vitamin A on the liver in toxic dose of methamphetamine induced adult male Wistar rats

Ezejindu Damian Nnabuihe
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.


• Alozie Osinachi Prince
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Ekelemchukwu Chinelo Juliet
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Udodi Sopuluchukwu Princewill
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Enemuo Ijeoma
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Okeke Somadina Nnamdi
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Ogbuokiri Doris K
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Okeke Henry Kachikwuru
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Ekoh Augustine Alobu
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Benedict Nzube Obinwa
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Chinyere Elizabeth Eze
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Nwaefulu Kester Eluemunor
• Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Sobanke A. Omolara
• Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Chidinma Ifeyinwa Mmaju
• Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Okafor Anulika Jacinta
• Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Chuka-Onwuokwu Ngozi Cynthia
• Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Ejiogu Ikedichukwu Chibueze
• Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Nwoko Sebastine Okechukwu
• Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Wuraola Serah Nnaemeka
• Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Ebi Victory Chinecherem
• Department of Medicine, College of medicine, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Agu Augustine Uchenna
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Ugwu Augustus Uchenna
• Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Nwodo Ndubuisi Francis
• Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Madonna University, Rivers state, Nigeria.

Elemuo Chukwuebuka Stanley
• Department of Anatomy, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Agbai Johnson Ukwa
• Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria.

Muorah Chinecherem Onyekachi
• Department of Nursing science, Christopher University, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Ozoemena Chiadiobi Lawrence
• Department of Anatomy, Fculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Methamphetamine (METH) is a potent psychostimulant that induces oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity following prolonged or high-dose exposure. Vitamin A, a fat-soluble antioxidant, has been reported to exert protective effects against oxidative tissue injury. This study evaluated the effect of high-dose vitamin A on methamphetamine-induced liver toxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Twenty adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups (n = 5 per group). Group A served as the control and received standard feed and water only; Group B received methamphetamine (10 mg/kg body weight) administered at 3-hour intervals daily; Group C received high-dose vitamin A (2.5 mg/kg body weight); and Group D received methamphetamine in combination with high-dose vitamin A. All experimental animals had free access to standard feed and water throughout the study. The administration was done orally by gavage for 28 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the final administration, the animals were anesthetized and sacrificed. The livers were excised, weighed, and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathological examination using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Blood samples were collected for the determination of serum liver enzyme activities, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Body weight results revealed reduction in body weight of the rats in METH treated group while co-administration with high-dose vitamin A mitigated the weight loss. The organ weight assessment revealed an increase in relative liver weight across the experimental groups compared with the control group. However, the methamphetamine-treated group (Group B) exhibited a significantly higher relative liver weight than the control group (P < 0.005). Histological observation revealed that methamphetamine caused liver damage such as hepatocellular degeneration and inflammatory infiltration. Co-treatment with high-dose vitamin A showed improved liver cytoarchitecture suggesting protective effect. In conclusion, methamphetamine caused hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats of the animal models studied while high-dose vitamin A offered hepatoprotection against methamphetamine-induced liver damage.

Keywords

Vitamin A, Wistar rat, Hepatoprotective, Toxic dose, Methamphetamine

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