ABSTRACT

Antioxidants are molecules that halt oxidation processes. Antioxidants are needed to prevent the formation and reduce the level of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species which are produced in vivo and cause damage to DNA, proteins, lipids and other biomolecules. This study was carried out to determine the GC-MS analysis and in vivo antioxidant study of ethanol extract of Anthocleista vogel/i stem bark using Cd4 induced male wistar albino rats. Eighteen albino mice and Thirty male Wistar albino rats were used for this study. The eighteen albino mice were used for acute toxicity test where they were divided into two phases. Phase I comprised of group ito 3 which were administered 10, 100 and 1000mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively. Phase 2 comprised of groups 4 to 6 and they were administered 1600, 2900 and 5000mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively. The mice were observed for 72 hours and none of the mice died. The thirty male Wistar albino rats were divided into 6 groups of five rats in each group. Group I served as the normal control and were given feed and distilled water only Group 2 served as the negative control group and were induced with carbon tetrachioride (Cd4), given feed and water. Group 3 was the positive control group and the animals in this group were treated with standard drug, Silymarin, given feed and water. Group 4, 5 and 6 were the extract treated groups, animals here were induced with CC14 and administered with 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively. The result gotten from the analysis showed that all the groups administered ethanol extract of Ant hocleista vogel/i showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in catalase activity except group 5 which showed a significant (p> 0.05) decrease in catalase activity. All groups administered varying concentrations of Ant hocle ista vogelli showed significant (p <0.05) decrease in the glutathione peroxidase activity when compared to the normal control. There was a significant (p <0.05) decrease in the superoxide dismutase activities of the animals in groups 5 and 6 when compared to the normal control group. A significant (p < 0.05) increase was recorded for malondialdehyde concentration of animals in group 2 (negative control group) and there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in the malondialdehyde concentration of the animals in groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 when compared to the group 1 animals. The chromatogram GCMS analysis showed fifty peaks indicating the presence of fifty compounds in the extract. The major compounds in the stem with peak area % were Hydrazine (12.22), silane (2.62), L-Aspartic acid (2.54), Trimethylsilyl-di(timethylsi loxy)-silane (2.47), MDMA methylene homolog (1.62), malic acid (1.59), acetic acid (1.37), l,l-dimethyl-hydrazine (1.20), succinic acid (1.04), Benzeneacetic/phenylacetic acid (0.89) and Mercaptoethanol (0.86). Hydrazine has been found to possess an anti-depressant property. From the above result, it was concluded that ethanol extract of Anthocleista vogel/i stem bark is consumable due to its high safety margin and is a good source of antioxidant; as such, has the ability to reduce the activities of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.