Effects Of Aqueous And Methanolic Leaf Extracts Of Lonchocarpus Cyanencens Leaf On Oxidative Status In Normal Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Lonchocarpus cyanescens, a shrub tree is one of the herbal plants used traditionally to improve human health in Nigeria. It is used in the treatment of Diabetes mellitus in the western part of the country. The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical effects of aqueous and methanol extracts of Lonchocarpus cyanescens leaf on oxidative status in normal Wistar albino rats. A total of twelve rats were divided into three groups of four rats each: control, aqueous and methanol extract groups. Rats in the two observation groups were administered 200 mg/kg body weight, of aqueous or method extract of the medicinal plant leaf. After 12 weeks of treatment, the rats were euthanized and blood samples were collected for analysis. The oxidative stress parameters measured included activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The results showed that aqueous and methanol extracts of L. cyanescens leaves did not significantly alter the activities and concentrations of the measured indices of oxidative stress in rats' plasma when compared with the control group (p > 0.05). These results indicate that extracts of L. cyanescens can maintain the oxidative status of normal rats