EFFECTS OF METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF Pterocarpus santalinoides DC ON BLOOD OXIDATIVE STRESS AND ANTI-OXIDANT PARAMETERS OF ALBINO RATS GIVEN TOXIC DOSES OF CARBON TETRACHLORIDE

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of methanolic leaf extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides DC on blood oxidative stress and anti-oxidant parameters of albino rats given toxic doses of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Thirty male albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) of 12 weeks of age were randomly assigned into 6 groups (A – F) of 5 rats each. A mixture of 1 ml/kg CCl4 in equal volume of olive oil (50% v/v) was injected intraperitoneally to groups A – E at 3 days interval for 12 days (days 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12) to induce sub-acute toxicity. Group A was treated with 10 ml/kg distilled water as placebo and served as negative control (induced untreated), groups B, C and D were treated with 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg of Pterocarpus santalinoides methanolic leaf extract (PSMLE) respectively. Group E was treated with 100 mg/kg Silymarin as positive control, while group F was treated with 10 ml/kg distilled water as placebo (normal control not given CCl4). Treatment was given per os twice daily for 15 days. Blood was collected on day 15 post-initiation of treatment for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total plasma glutathione activity levels. Treatment with PSMLE at 250 and 500 mg/kg especially led to significantly lower (P < 0.05) blood MDA levels, and significantly higher (p < 0.05) activity concentrations of catalase, SOD, GPx and total glutathione in the treated rats when compared to the untreated negative control. It was concluded that treatment with 250 and 500 mg/kg PSMLE significantly ameliorated CCl4-induced oxidative stress and enhanced blood levels of antioxidant parameters, which suggests that the extract may be useful in diseases mediated by and associated with oxidative stress.