Antioxidant Activity of Hydro-Ethanolic Extract of Blighia sapida Stem Bark in the Pancreas of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Blighia sapida is a plant belonging to the family of sapindaceae. In this study we aimed at investigating the possible antioxidant activities of hydro-ethanolic extract of Blighia sapida stem bark in the pancreas of  alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Administration of the extract at 100mg/kg body weight significantly (P<0.05) increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the pancreas of diabetic rats. Also the concentration of reduced glutathione increased in the pancreatic tissues of the diabetic rats while the levels of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl generally decreased in the pancreas of alloxan-induced diabetic rats during the course of the experiment. These are indications of antioxidant properties of the stem bark of Blighia sapida with 100mg/kg body weight of the hydro-ethanolic extract showing good antioxidant activities by comparing favourably well with metformin, a standard antidiabetic drug.

Keywords: Blighia sapida, diabetes mellitus, antioxidants, antioxidant enzymes

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-16-03

Publication date: August 31^st 2019