Antioxidant Potential of Spathodea campanulata Plant Parts and its Hepatotoxicity on Induced Albino Rats
Isaac John Umaru *
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Helen Adeseye Oluwabumi
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Yakubu, Ojochenemi Ejah
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Kerenhappuch Isaac Umaru
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Pamela Ephraim Nyifi
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Stephen Bitrus Hundi
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Monica Okono Etegin
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Rimamskep Danbeki
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Medicinal plants constitute an effective source of both traditional and modern medicine in the present study The African tulip tree, Spathodea campanulata was evaluated for antioxidant potential and its hepatotoxicity on induced albino rats. The flower, leaves, stem bark and roots of Spathodea campanulata were collected, washed, air-dried and pulverized to powder and each extracted with ethanol. Thirty male albino rats weighing (150-190g) were used to carry out this work. The rats were distributed into five (5) groups containing 5 rats per each group. Group I serve as the normal group. Group 2 serve as the negative control and were induced with ulcer without treatment. Group 3 served as the positive control and were induced with ulcer and treated with the reference drug (Omeprazole). Group 4 and 5 were induced with ulcer and treated with 200mg and 400mg of the extracts of the flowers, leaves, stem bark and roots of Spathodea campanulata. The various treatment was administered orally and lasted for a period of two weeks. After the treatment the rats were anaesthetized, sacrificed and blood samples was collected through cardiac puncture and dispersed into an anticoagulant tube and the centrifuged for 10min at 400rpm to obtain a clear serum for biochemical analysis of the indices of the liver function. The antioxidant activity was performed by DPPH (1, 1 diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging method for the different plant parts of Spathodea campanulata. All extracts showed a significant DPPH scavenging activity with increasing concentration. The flower extract showed the highest DPPH scavenging activity (77.57 % RSA) at a concentration of 100μg/ml. The comparative effect of the flower and root extract showed elevated levels of Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) during flower extract administration and normal levels of Aspartate amino transferase (AST) and Alanine amino transferase (ALT) during root extract administration indicating it as good natural source for protection of the functioning of the liver.
Keywords: Antioxidant, Spathodea campanulata, hepatotoxicity, albino rats