Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous and Methanol Extracts of Flacourtia indica Fruit (Governor’s Plum) on Cadmium induced Toxicity in Albino Wistar Rats
Ikpe Vitalis & Iso Francis
Department of Biochemistry
Caritas University, Enugu
Email: vitalis.ikpe@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants are widely used by traditional practitioners for curing various diseases. This study was designed to ascertain the antioxidant properties of aqueous and methanol extracts of Flacourtia indica fruit (Governor’s plum) on cadmium induced toxicity in albino wistar rats. Forty-Five rats of both sexes (140-170g, aged 3months) were divided into nine groups of five rats each. Group A was negative control, Group B positive control while Groups C to I were test groups. Groups B to I were induced with 50, 60, 70, 80, 90,100,110 and 120mg/kg/body weight cadmium oxide respectively for oxidative stress. Groups C to F were respectively treated with oral administration of 120, 150, 180 and 200mg/kg/body weight of methanol extract of Flacourtia inica fruit for 7 days while G to I were treated with 150,180 and 200mg/kg/body weight of the aqueous extract. Blood glucose levels and activities of antioxidants such as Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione Peroxidase, reduced glutathione, Vitamin C and Vitamin E were assayed by standard methods before induction, after induction and after administration of extracts. Results after cadmium induction showed significant increase (P<0.05) in blood glucose concentration and significant decrease (P<0.05) in antioxidant levels. These results were reversed after treatment with the extracts with significant decrease (P<0.05) in blood glucose and significant increases (P<0.05) in antioxidants levels. Flacourtia indica fruit had the ability to manage hyperglycaemia and mitigated cadmium induced toxicity.
Key words: Flacourtia indica, fruit, efficacy, oxidative stress.
