Phyto-nutrient composition and antioxidative potential of ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta in wistar albino rats

Phytochemical, micronutrient composition and anti-oxidative potential of ethanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta in albino wistar rats were investigated using standard analytical methods. The result (mg/100 g) for phytochemical composition were 91.46 plus or minus 0.02 tannin, 1500.36 plus or minus 0.36 alkaloid, 530.27 plus or minus 0.03 saponin, 1163.86 plus or minus 0.1 flavonoid, 1454.50 plus or minus 0.85 steriod, 115.29 plus or minus 0.05 terpeniods and 851.62 plus or minus 0.01 cardiac glycosides. The vitamin composition (mg/100 g) were 0.36 plus or minus 0.01 thiamin, 0.19 plus or minus 0.02 niacin, 24.27 plus or minus 0.25 ascorbic acid, 1.85 plus or minus 0.32 tocopherol, 0.12 plus or minus 0.05 riboflavin while mineral composition (mg/100 mg) was 14428 plus or minus 0.02, 122.11 plus or minus 0.01, 325.12 plus or minus 0.02 for calcium, magnesium and zinc, respectively. To determine the antioxidative potential, twenty-four adult wistar albino rats were divided into four groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 received feed and water (control) while group 2, 3 and 4 in addition to feed and water were treated with ethanol leaf extract of S. acuta at 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg body weight, respectively. After 14 days of treatment; the rats were sacrificed and plasma obtained for oxidative stress indices assay. The result showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in mean values of plasma malondialdehyde concentration and a significant increase (P < 0.05) in reduced glutathione concentration at 40 and 60 mg/kg body weight compared to the control group. Plasma catalase and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly increased (P < 0.05) only in animals treated with 60 mg/kg body weight compared to the control group. The result showed that ethanolic leaf extract of S. acuta possesses an antioxidant property which, in a dose-dependent manner, reduces/ameliorates oxidative stress in rats.