Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Studies of Annonasenegalensispers. (Annonaceae) Stem Bark.

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine pharmacognostic standards, phytochemical constituents, evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of the extract and fractions of Annona senegalensis Pers. (Annonaceae) by employing both the in vitro and in vivo experimental models. The acute toxicity tests result showed the drug is safe at 5000mg/kg doses. The effect of DPPH free radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, Hydroxyl radical scavenging, Hydrogen peroxide scavenging, lipid peroxidation assay, assay of catalase, superoxide Dismutase assay, total protein, β-carotene bleaching, FRAP scavenging, liver and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities were evaluated. Hepatoprotective effects of the extract was evaluated against CCl4 induce liver damage. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induce hepatotoxicity was evaluated by significant increase ( p < 0.05 ) in serum AST, ALT, ALP activity and bilirubin level accompanied by significant decrease ( p > 0.05 ) lipid peroxidation, and catalase activity in liver tissue. All these parameters were also evaluated using the n–hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol fractions. The results showed that the extract/fractions of stem bark of A. senegalensis had better antioxidant activities at high concentrations when compared to the standard. Co-administration of the extract/fractions (400mg/Kg) protects the CCl4 – induced lipid peroxidation, restored altered serum elevated enzymes. It showed that it is dose dependent. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the stem bark is a potential source of natural antioxidants.