Abstract
 
Background: Liver disease and toxicity is common, especially with many drug treatments. The effect of Vernonia amygdalina ethanolic
leaf extract post-treatment on rats pre-treated with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) was evaluated.  
Methods: Male wistar rats were orally administered DMN (single dose of 25 mg/kg) on first day and thereafter post-treated with 100 and
200mg/kg ethanolic leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina for seven days. Analysis of serum concentrations of albumin, total protein, total
bilirubin and glucose were carried out.  
Results: Administration of DMN alone to rats significantly increased glucose and total bilirubin concentration (P < 0.05) in the serum
while  it  significantly  reduced  (P<0.05)  serum  total  protein  and  albumin  concentrations  when  compared  with  controls.  However, post-treatment  of DMN administered rats with 100 and 200 mg/kg  ethanolic extract  leaf of Vernonia amygdalina significantly (P<0.05) re-versed these changes in a concentration dependent manner.  
Conclusion: In  conclusion  ethanolic leaf  extract  of Vernonia  amygdalina have  a  potent  hypoglycaemic  and  hepatoprotective action
against dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver damage in rats may be due to its antioxidant properties..