Effects Of The Methanol Extract Of The Leaves Of M. Paradisiaca On The Activity Of Superoxide Dismutase (Sod) Of Indomethacin ulcerated Rats:-George Akudo P.

ABSTRACT

 The damage induced to cellular constituents by oxygen-derived free radicals have been shown to play a major role in the origin and development of a wide range of chronic disorders such as ulcer, cancer, atherosclerosis among others. Medicinal plants have long played important roles in the treatment of diseases all over the world. Medicinal plants contain a number of medicinal properties. One of such plant is M. paradisiaca. The present study was therefore, designed to investigate the phytochemical constituents, acute toxicity and lethality and the effect of the methanol extract of the leaves of M. paradisiaca on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) of indomethacin-ulcerated rats. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that the extract contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, proteins, steroids, terpenoids and fats and oil but resins, glycosides and acidic compounds were not detected. The extract at the tested doses [100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (b.w)] caused significant (p < 0.05) and dosedependent increases on the activity of SOD of the rats in the test groups compared to the values obtained for the rats in the ulcer untreated group (group 2). The effects of the 400 mg/kg b.w of the extract were similar to those of the standard anti-ulcer drug, famotidine at the dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. The results indicate that the methanol extract of the leaves of M. paradisiaca possesses SOD activity-boosting potential in gastric ulcer condition.