Evaluation Of The Antioxidative Activity Of Aframomum Melegueta (Aligator Pepper) Methanolic Seed Extraction On Wistar Albino Rat Model

ABSTRACT

Aframomum melegueta with the common names; Grains of Paradise, Melegueta pepper, alligator pepper, Guinea grains, or Guinea pepper is a tropical perennial plant of the genus Aframomum belonging to the family zingiberaceae (ginger family) and angiosperms in the Kingdom plantae. This study was performed to evaluate the antioxidative effect of Aframomum melegueta seeds methanolic extract using Wistar albino rat model. The antioxidative activity of the seeds of Aframomum melegueta was determined by evaluation of the oxidative stress biomarkers (Malondialdehyde, Catalase and Superoxide dismutase) from the organ homogenate. The results obtained from this study showed that Aframomum melegu eta gave a significant decrease in Malondialdehyde (0.016 ±0.01) at the highest dose (400mg/kg), the level of Catalase were also significantly increased (128.72±31.27) at the highest dose (400mg/kg), while the Superoxide dismutase had a dose dependent increase in all the groups • that received extract (100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) with the respective values (14.00 ±0.58, 18.00 ±0.58, 20.33 ±0.88). These results indicate that Aframomum melegueta seeds extracts possesses an antioxidative property and therefore can be used for the management of oxidative stress.