Abstract |
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Cyphostemma glaucophilla is used in the treatment of several degenerative diseases. Phytochemical analyses was carried out on aqueous leaves extract and the anti oxidant activity were investigated using albino rats, which were divided into five groups of five animals each. Group A received (0.85% NaCl; 5ml/kg) control while single daily oral doses of 10, 15, 20, 25mg/kg body weight of extract were administered to groups B, C, D and E for 21 days respectively. Animals were fasted overnight and sacrificed with ether anaesthesia and the liver homogenates were used for the assessment of protein, malondialdehyde and assay of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), anti lipid peroxidation and 2, 2- diphenyl-1-piccrylhydrazylhydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging activities by standard methods. Results confirmed the presence of flavonoids, vitamin C, proteins, carbohydrates, steroids, O and C glycosides, traces of vitamin E and A. The extract induced significant (p<0.05) dose dependent increase in the concentration of proteins and inhibited significant (p<0.05) dose related decrease in the concentration of malondialdehyde. It produced significant (p<0.05) dose dependent increase in the concentration of glutathione peroxidase and SOD peaks at 25mg/kg (55 and 35%) relative to control, there was also a significant (p<0.05) inhibition of lipid peroxidation by 18.80% in group B and 25.42% in E, the DPPH radical scavenging activity increased with increased concentration of extract by 14.31% and 37.23% in groups B and E respectively. Study has shown that extract contains phytochemicals of biological and pharmacological importance and has antioxidant capacity which can be utilized to alleviate the symptoms of chronic and degenerative diseases. |