Antioxidant potentials of ethanol leaf extract of Milicia Excels (Welw.) C. C. Berg. (Moraceae)

Abstract

Background and aim: Previous studies have demonstrated the antipsychotic, antidepressant and antiamnesic effects of Milicia excelsa leaf extract in various brain disorders. However, there are scanty reports on the antioxidant effect of the leaf despite the involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of brain disorders.
Methods: This study assessed the antioxidant potential of ethanol leaf extract of Milicia excelsa in mice at 250, 500 and 100 mg/kg via in vivo assay and 0.078 to 10 mg/ml via in vitro assay using standard methods.
Results: Extract showed in vitro antioxidant potential in all model assays. It showed no significant (p>0.05) increase in malondialdehyde level, but significantly (p<0.05) elevated antioxidant indices of superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione.
Conclusion: This study therefore, lend credence to the antioxidant potential of M. excelsa leaf to justify its various reported uses in literature.