Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous Extract of Alchornea laxiflora (Benth) Leaf on some Selected Organs in Iron Deficient Albino Rats

The effects of administration of aqueous extract of Alchornea laxiflora leaf at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight on some antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in iron deficient albino rats were investigated. Thirty six albino rats (51.17±1.02g) were used for the study. Eight rats were fed on iron-sufficient diet while the remaining twenty eight were made iron-deficient by maintaining them on iron deficient diets. After five weeks of feeding, haematological parameters (PCV, Hb, RBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC) of the iron-deficient rats were significantly reduced compared with rats fed on iron-sufficient diets (p<0.05). The iron-deficient rats were then treated with the extract, reference iron drug (FeSO4) and iron-sufficient diets for two weeks. There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) in the serum, liver and kidney of rats in the iron deficient group (IDG) and significant decrease in the level of GSH in the serum, liver and kidney of rats in the iron-deficient group when compared to other treated groups. Also, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the level of malondialdehyde in liver, kidney and brain of untreated iron-deficient rats when compared with the control (iron sufficient group). The results revealed that the administration of aqueous extract of Alchornea laxiflora leaf at all doses to the iron-deficient rats significantly increase the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, increase in the level of GSH and decrease in the level of MDA. Therefore, aqueous extract of Alchornea laxiflora leaf reversed oxidative stress in iron deficient rats; these may be attributed to its rich phytochemical contents. [Olatunde, A., Oladiji, A.T. and Oloyede, H.O.B. Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous Extract of Alchornea laxiflora (Benth) Leaf on some Selected Organs in Iron Deficient Albino Rats. Nat Sci 2014;12(8):48-55]. (ISSN: 1545-0740). http://www.sciencepub.net/nature. 8