Antioxidant activity and toxicological implications of the aqueous extract of Azanza garckeana fruit pulp in female wistar rats

Abstract

This study examined the antioxidant activity as well as the safety profile of Azanza garckeana aqueous extract in female Wistar rats. Following the random distribution of 28 female Wistar rats (mean weight = 159.25 ± 3.32 g) into four (4) groups labelled (A-D) containing seven rats (animals) each, a daily administration of 0.5 mL distilled water was orally given to the rats in group A, while the aqueous extract of A. garckeana fruit pulp were given orally at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg to rats in groups B, C and D respectively for 21 days. Some antioxidant activities as well as kidney and liver function indices were examined on the rat using established methods. All liver function indices assayed for showed no significant (p > 0.05) difference in comparison to the control. The concentration of liver enzyme revealed no significant (p > 0.05) difference in liver alanine aminotransferase, liver aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and liver alkaline phosphatase at 500 mg/kg in comparison to the control group. Conversely, all kidney functions indices show significant increase (p < 0.05) following extract administration, indicating potential effects on kidney function.  Significant decrease (p< 0.05) was observed in the level of kidney and liver reduced glutathione and kidney malondialdehyde while kidney and liver superoxide dismutase as well as liver malondialdehyde significantly increased (p<0.05). Overall, aqueous fruit pulp extract of A. garckeana shows no damaging effect on liver indices at the investigated dosage. However, it may have a significant side effect on the kidney due to the biochemical alterations observed in the kidney function indices at the investigated dosages.