In vivo antioxidant effect of methanolic extract of Afzelia africana seed on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute and chronic oxidative injury in rats

The in-vivo antioxidant effect of the methanol extract of Afzelia africana SM seed on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress in rats was investigated. In the acute liver injury experiment, rats were intraperitoneally pre-treated with the extract (5 mg/kg) for three days before CCl4 intoxication at 0.6 mL/kg, while in the chronic liver injury experiment, rats were administered the extract (2.5 mg/kg) for ten consecutive days, with 72 h administration of CCl4 (0.3 mL/kg body weight) following initial CCl4 intoxication (0.6 mL/kg). Results showed a significantly higher levels (p less than 0.05) of packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities in the extract-treated rats compared to the CCl4 control. Also, there was a significant reduction (p less than 0.05) in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the organs of A. africana seed extract - treated rats compared to CCl4 control. There results indicate that the seeds of A. africana commonly consumed in eastern and central Nigeria possess antioxidant properties that could protect the kidney and liver from both acute and chronic injuries caused by oxidative stress.