As. Pac. J. Mol. Biol. & Biotech., Jun 2017 Vol. 1, 31-
Effect of aqueous Senecio biafrae leaf extract on the antioxidant status and histology of selected tissues of Alloxan-induced diabetic rats
B.O. Ajiboye*
Department of Chemical Sciences, Biochemistry Programme, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
* Author for correspondence: SB.O. Ajiboye
Department of Chemical Sciences, Biochemistry Programme, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
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Abstract.
This study aimed to assess the effect of Senecio biafrae leaf extract on lipid peroxidation, activity of antioxidant enzymes and histology of liver, heart, kidney, pancreas and brain tissues on alloxan-induced diabetic rats after 21 days of oral exposure. Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were treated orally (by gavage) with 200 and 400mg/kg body weight of Senecio biafrae aqueous leaf extract for fifteen days after which activity of malondiahdehye (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase was assessed in the serum. Histology of liver, heart, pancreas, brain and kidneys were also studied. 400mg/kg body weight produced no significant difference (p<0.05) in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as was also true with superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities when compared with the control, while 200mg/kg body weight produced a significant difference (p>0.05). This result was supported by histology examination. The results suggest that the Senecio biafrae leaf extract possesses some degree of in vivo antioxidant activity, hence it may possibly exert its antidiabetic effect via antioxidant action.
