ABSTRACT

Dennettia tripetala (Pepper Fruit) belongs to the Annonaceae family and is abundant in Nigeria. Its fruit in folklore medicine is used for treatment of different diseases. This study aimed at determining antioxidant effects of Dennettia tripetala methanol leave extract of male albino rats. Parameters determined for the antioxidant. activities were sodium dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GHS) and catalase (CAT). Twenty healthy male albino rats were divided into four groups of five rats each were used in this study. Group 1 was the control that received only feed and water, group 2 received an oral dose of 100 mg/kg methanol leave extract of Dennettia tripetala daily, group 3 received an oral dose of 200 mg/kg methanol leave extract of Dennettia tripetala daily while group 4 received an oral dose of 400 mg/kg ethanol leave extract of Dennettia tripetala daily. After 21 days of administration the rats were sacrificed and standard analytical methods were used to assay the biochemical parameters. Blood samples were collected through ocular puncture. The result of SOD (lU/g protein) showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in all the experimented groups when compared to the control. MDA (nanomole/g protein) showed significant increase (p<0.05) in all the experimented groups when compared to the control. Also GSH (pg/L) showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in all the experimented groups when compared to the control. Again CAT (U/g protein) showed significant increase (p<0.05) in all the experimented groups when compared to the control. In conclusion the result of this study has shown that administration of methanol leave extract of Dennettia tripetala has antioxidant effect to protect the body against reactive oxygen species activities in the body.