EFFECTS OF NAUCLEA HATIFOLIA ON OXIDATIVE STRESS IN WISTER ALBINO RATS IN CRUDE OIL TOXICITY

Abstract

The study investigated oxidative stress in rats and the effects of Nauclea hatifolia in crude oil toxicity. Crude oil toxicity created significant inhibition (p<0.05) of antioxidant enzymes
(superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) but activated catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde
(MDA) levels in hepatic cells when compared with control. Crude oil toxicity also induced
significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and
alanine phosphatase (ALP) in the serum. The alteration of antioxidant enzymes and other liver
parameters may be attributed to oxidative stress and adaptive response. The rats that were
simultaneously treated with crude oil and N. hatifolia stem bark extract however, maintained or recorded relatively no significant (p>0.05) alteration in biochemical parameters in the serum and hepatic cells when compared with control. These non-significant (p>0.05) alteration may be attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of N. hatifolia which may explain the probable therapeutic and protective role of N. hatifolia in crude oil toxicity.