The harmful effects that accompany the use of orthodox antioxidant medicine have necessitated the hunt for inherent antioxidants from plants extracts. In the present study, the in vivo antioxidant and hepato-protective activities of Vitex doniana against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in albino rats were investigated. The hepato-protective activities of the methanol extract of Vitex doniana stem bark were compared with Silymarin, a known hepatoprotective drug. Twenty-five (25) male albino adult rats were grouped into five (5) each. Group 1 and 2 was used as the normal and negative control respectively. Group 3-5 were treated with 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg methanol extract of Vitex doniana stem bark and 100 mg/kg Silymarin respectively. Results indicated that elevated levels of serum ALT, AST and ALB, and reduced serum SOD, GST and CAT in CCl4-hepatotoxic rats was an evidence of impairment in liver function. Administration of methanol extract of Vitex doniana stem bark (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) and standard control drug Silymarin (100 mg/kg) have no significant (P>0.05) effect on CCl4- induced elevations of the ALT and AST levels while the reduction in albumin concentration, total proteins, SOD, GST and CAT due to CCl4 was reversed. In conclusion, Vitex doniana exhibited significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties in CCL4 induced liver damage in rat, and thus could be used and incorporated in the development of new and effective antioxidant drugs.
