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Objectives: Oxidative stress (OS)-related pathologic conditions in the tissues of living organism have been linked to exposure to stressful events within the environment. This study examined the impact of different kinds of stress exposure on glutathione (GSH)-related antioxidants. The effect of stress was examined using comparative levels of GSH, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in female Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight adult female Wistar rats with body weights ranging between 150 and 200 g, were used for the study. The animals were distributed into 28 groups of six animals each. The experimental animals were routinely exposed to three different stressors; restraint chamber test, mirror chamber test and intruder chamber test for a duration of 1, 3 or 5 h per day for 1, 2 and 3 weeks, respectively. All animals were allowed free access to food (rat chaws), with water ad libitum. Animals were euthanise through cervical dislocation after the experimental period and the different target tissues were carefully harvested and homogenised for antioxidant estimation following standard procedure. Data obtained were statistically analysed and values expressed as mean ± standard error of mean and P < 0.05 level was considered as statistically significant. Results: Findings from this study elucidated the fact that exposure to stress is capable of causing marked OS and reducing GSH-based antioxidant activities in Wistar rats. A decline in the GSH level and GPx activity as observed in the study is an indication of alterations of kidney and brain tissue cellular integrity by free radicals generated during exposure to the stressors, while the observed significant increase in GST activity level in the affected tissues indicates compromised rapid exhaustion of the cellular system. Conclusion: Hence, we conclude that stress of different nature, intensity and duration can alter the levels of GSH-related antioxidants, especially in the kidney, ovary and brain tissues of stressed Wistar rats. The GSH levels in liver tissues were observed not to have changed significantly despite the oxidative damage caused by the stressors.

Background: Medicinal plants are increasingly getting recognition. Cissus aralioides is a lofty climber belonging to the family of Vitaceae and widely distributed in South-Eastern region of Nigeria. Varied therapeutic benefits as well as well health harming effects have been reported about the plant. This study evaluated the effects of aqueous extract of Cissus aralioides leaf on reproductive functions in female Wistar rats.Methods: 72 adult female Wistar rats weighing between 110-180/g were used for the study. The animals were randomly grouped into 6 groups of twelve rats each (n=12). Groups 1 and 2 served as control while groups 3 to 6 were the experimental groups and were administered (100/mg, 200/mg, 300/mg and 500/mg)/kg of the extract respectively for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and centrifuged to obtain the serum for biochemical analysis for Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Estrogen and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). Data were analyzed using the SPSS package and expressed as mean± SEM and ANOVA.Results: There was significant body weight reduction across groups administered with the extract. Also, there were significant decrease in estrogen level in groups that received 300/mg/kg and 500/mg/kg when compared with the control groups, a similar decrease was not observed with LH and FSH across the groups.Conclusion: Observations from this study shows that aqueous leaf extract of Cissus aralioides decreases circulating levels of estrogen in female Wistar rats.

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