Protective Effect of Ethanol Extract of Soursop (Annona Muricata Linn) Leaves on Cycad Induced Oxidative Stress in Male Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of Annona
muricata ethanol extract (AME) on oxidative stress induced by oral
administration of Cycads. Seventy male albino Wistar rats were divided
into seven groups; Group A rats served as normal control, they were
given normal diet (growers marsh) group B received normal diet + 5%
cycad (w/w) only for 4 weeks, group C received normal diet + 5 % cycad
for 3 weeks +100 mg/kg b.w of AME for 1 week, group D received
normal diet + 5 % cycad for 1 week before treating with 100mg/kg for 3
weeks, group E received normal diet + 100 mg/kg AME for 1 week and
then 5% cycad for the remaining 3 weeks group F received normal diet +
100 mg/kg AME for 4 weeks and group G received normal diet + 5 %
cycad + 100 mg/kg AME for 4weeks. At the end of the feeding
experiment, the animals were sacrificed and their heart and liver were
excised for: total protein, LDH, MDA, SOD, Catalase and GPx assays
respectively. The result showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in liver
total protein and LDH in group B compared to group A, liver and heart
MDA levels were highest in group B; 45.05 and 60.29 Units/mL
respectively and significantly decreased in groups C, D, E, F G treated
with AME, also there was a marked decrease in Liver and Heart’s SOD
and Catalase activity in group B (2.52 Units/mg and 0.42 Units/mg)
compared to group A (5.29 and 1.92Units/mg), but increased in other
group C, D, E, F and G that were treated with AME. There was no
significant difference (P < 0.05) in GPx activities between groups. These
observations shows that Annona muricata ethanolic extract could have
conferred a protective effect on the liver and heart tissues, preventing
oxidative attack as a result of its antioxidant potential.