Effect Of Ethyl Acetate Root Extract Of Sphenocentrumjollyanum On Antioxidant Enzymes Of Alloxan -Induced Diabetic Wistar Albino Rats :- Onwuzuruigbo Prince C

ABSTRACT xi Diabetes is known to involve oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant enzymes. Many plants metabolites have been shown to possess antioxidant activities, improving effects of oxidative stress complications in diabetic conditions. This study evaluated the effects of ethyl acetate root extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum on antioxidant enzymes in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Twenty rats were taken and they were divided into five groups. First group acted as a normal control, remaining 4 groups were induced diabetes by administering alloxan (140mg/kg intra peritoneal). Second group served as a positive control with diabetes treated with Gibenclamide (5mg/kg), the third as a negative control with untreated diabetes, the fourth and fifth groups were given ethyl acetate extract of the root (200mg/kg body weight and 400mg/kg body weight respectively) to rats. The results confirmed that the untreated diabetic rats were subjected to oxidative stress as indicated by significantly (p<0.05) abnormal activities of their scavenging enzyme (low catalase), and high malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to the negative control. The results showed that the extract significantly (p<0.05) increased levels ofthe antioxidant enzyme catalase and reduced levels ofthe malondialdehyde when compared to the negative or untreated group in a dose dependent manner. The extract significantly (p<0.05) decreased the superoxide dismutase activity when compared to the untreated group. In alloxan diabetic animals, treatment with the root extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum significantly (p<0.05) lowered the blood glucose level in a dose dependent manner from Week 1 to Week 2 and continued to the last day of treatment. This result indicates that the extract attenuated hyperglycaemia in alloxan diabetic rats and suggests that the plant may be a potential source of antioxidant or antidiabetic agent.