In vivo antioxidant potentials of Piliostigma thonningii (Schum) leaves: studies on hepatic marker enzyme, antioxidant system, drug detoxifying enzyme and lipid peroxidation.

In this study, the in vivo antioxidant potentials of Piliostigma thonningii were investigated in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic and oxidative damage in rat. Albino rats were grouped into six, group A rats received sterile distilled water for 14 days while B rats received 0.5 mL/kg body weight of carbon tetrachloride intraperitoneally on day 14. Group C rats received 200 mg/kg body weight of Piliostigma thonningii leaves extract for 14 days. Groups D, E and F rats were pretreated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of Piliostigma thonningii leaves for 14 days and challenged with 0.5 mL/kg body weight of carbon tetrachloride on day 14. The extract treatment significantly attenuated both the decrease and the increase in liver and serum marker enzyme. Antioxidant enzyme activity as well as level of uridyl diphosphoglucuronosyl transferase, quinone oxidoreductase and glutathione S-transferase was significantly induced. There was attenuation of malonidialdehyde and lipid hydroperoxide increase. On the basis of the available data in this report, it can be postulated that Piliostigma thonningii leaves protect liver against hepatic and oxidative damage by carbon tetrachloride possibly by acting as an in vivo free radical scavenger, induction of antioxidant enzymes, drug detoxifying enzymes and prevention of excessive stimulation of antioxidant enzyme and lipid peroxidation.