Antioxidant Principle of the Dry Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on Ethanol–induced Biochemical Changes in the Plasma and Brain Tisue of Rabbits

J.C. Mordi¹, M.A. Akanji^2, A.E. Ojieh³ and U.E. Uzuegbu¹

1Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, P.M.B.1, Abraka, Nigeria. 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara State 3Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1104

ABSTRACT: The damaging effects of reactive oxygen species on living systems are well documented. Chronic ethanol administration is able to induce oxidative stress in certain tissues in vivo. The ability of the aqueous extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius as consumed locally in some part of Nigeria to scavenge the oxidative stress produced from ethanol metabolism was investigated. The results obtained from this study showed that the extract significantly (p<0.05) decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (MDA) and increased glutathione level in both the plasma and the brain when compared to the ethanol treatment alone. The co-administration of the extract with ethanol revealed increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities when compared with the ethanol group alone although not to a significant level (p>0.05). Trends in the extract administration were similar to that of the standard (flavonoid group). However, histological examination revealed some pathophysiological changes in the ethanol treated group and not in the groups that received Cnidoscolus aconitifolius extract and the standard. Therefore, we concluded that the extract might have antioxidant effects on biochemical alterations and oxidative stress produced by ethanol.

KEYWORDS: Ethanol; Cnidoscolus aconitifolius; Thiobarbituric acid; Brain; Plasma; Histological examination

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