ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of extracts of Dialium
guineense stem bark in the mitigation of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced renal
oxidative stress. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 20) weighing 160 – 180g (mean weight =
170 ± 10g) were randomly assigned to four groups (5 rats per group): normal control,
CCl4 control, aqueous extract and ethanol extract groups. With the exception of normal
control, the rats were exposed to CCl4 at a single oral dose of 1.0mL/kg body weight,
bwt. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of the plant stem bark were obtained using cold
maceration method. Rats in the two treatment groups received 1000 mg/kg bwt of
aqueous or ethanol extract orally for 28 days. Activities of antioxidant enzymes such as
catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione
reductase (GR) were evaluated. The results showed that there were no significant
differences in the concentrations of total protein among the groups (p > 0.05). The
activities of all the antioxidant enzymes measured and levels of reduced glutathione
(GSH) were significantly lower in CCl4 control group than in normal control group, but
they were increased by extract treatment (p < 0.05). However, the level of
malondialdehyde (MDA) elevated by CCl4 intoxication reduced after treatment (p <
0.05). These results indicate that extracts of D. guineense stem bark could potentiate
the antioxidant defence in the amelioration of CCl4-induced oxidative stress in the rat
kidneys.
KEYWORDS: Antioxidant enzymes, Dialium guineense, Extract, Organ damage,
Oxidative stress