Catalase and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Activity in Albino Rats Treated with Aqueous Leaf Extract of Ageratum conyzoides

The leaves of Ageratum conyzoides have been found vital in treatment and management of several clinical disorders. Many of the applications have not been investigated. Therefore this research was designed to study the antioxidant ability of the aqueous extract of fresh leaves of Ageratum conyzoides in albino rats. A total of twenty (20) adult male albino rats were used. The rats were placed into five groups: A, B, C, D and E. Each of the groups contained four rats. Groups A, B, C and D were treated orally with doses of 200, 300, 400 and 500mg/kg body weight of the aqueous extract respectively for seven (7) consecutive days. Group E was the control and was fed only distilled water and feed. The average body weight of the treated animals decreased, while that of control increased. It was observed that there was a decrease in the feed and water intake and also decrease in physical activity of the treated animals, but for that of the control (group E), there was increase in feed and water intake. Increase in physical activity was also observed. Total protein concentrations recorded in the serum of the test animals increased significantly (P<0.05) than that of the control. The catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity obtained in the serum of the test group was nonsignificantly higher (P>0.05) than that of the control rats. The observations recorded from this research were dose dependent. The findings in this research may be used to boost the antioxidant potential of the body and may be implicated in the various therapeutic applications of the leaves.