Ameliorative Effect and In-Vivo Antioxidant Properties of Methanol Extract of Burkea africana Stem Bark On Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidases (Glutathione peroxidases), 5 glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferases, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase. 6 They act by inhibiting or neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and also detoxify products of lipid peroxidation such as malondialdehyde (MDA). Glutathione and its reducing equivalent, ascorbate, together with enzymes (mono and dihydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase) are useful for the removal of ROS. Synthetic liver and or kidney protective drugs are bewildered with a lot of side effects and are also expensive. Scientists have undertaken to find better, safer and cheaper liver protective drugs from natural sources such as medicinal plants. Burkea africana (Ceaesalpiniaceae) also known as Wild Syringa is a deciduous flat-topped plant which is readily found in tropical and subtropical region of Africa. 7 It has been widely used in folkloric medicine in Africa for the treatment of several disease conditions including hepatitis and other liver related disorders. It is also used for the treatment of fever, scabies, stomach aches, abscesses, edema, syphilis, ulcers, wounds, cough, catarrh, menorrhea, pneumonia, epilepsy, bloody diarrhea, gonorrhea, toothache, headache, poisoning, skin diseases and inflammation of the tongue and gums. 8,9 Studies have revealed that Burkea africana stem bark has invitro antioxidant, 10,11 molluscicidal, 12 antibacterial, antifungal, 13 and antiviral (anti-influenza) activities. 14 The anti-cancer, antidiarrheal, sedative and anxiolytic properties of the plant have been reported. 7 Burkea africana stem bark have been shown to have significant cell protecting effect in-vitro. 15 Phytochemical screening of the methanol and aqueous stem bark extract of Burkea africana revealed constituents such as tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, plobatannins, sterols and terpenes in the bark. 13 The presence of two major proanthocyanidins components (fisetinidol-(4α-8)-catechin 3-gallate and bisfisetinidol