ABSTRACT
Alstonia boonei is a medicinal plant that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory potential in folkloric medicine. It contains some phytochemicals such as flavonoids,phenolics, alkaloids and terpenes. The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidative stress and lipid profile indices of the Wistar rats administered with various doses of Alstonia boonei (leaf, stem bark and root bark) after induction of inflammation using formalin. Wistar rats were fed for 3 weeks and blood samples collected before the rats were sacrificed, the heart, liver and kidney were removed and crushed. Standard methods were used to analyze the appropriate biomarkers. The results of the study for the mean values of the cholesterol for Alstonia boonei as graded concentrations in which only the TC and LDL, Leaves TC (107.80± 9.09)mg/dl, LDL (79.80± 6.14)mg/dl, stem TC (59.00± 4.44)mg/dl, LDL (21.20± 3.87)md/dl, Root TC (68.33± 10.48)mg/dl, LDL (28.67± 3.28)mg/dl, as recorded a statistically significant (p<0.05) variation across group, as the 150mg/kg group (smallest) recorded a statistically (p<0.05) significantly higher level of TC and LDL values when compared with all other groups. For the root, 300mg/kg group (control) recorded a statistically (p <0.05) significantly higher level of TC and LDL values when compared with all other groups. The results of the antioxidant profile (MDA, SOD and CAT) of the liver, kidney and heart, of Alstonia boonei leaves, stem and root was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Variation was observed across all the groups, as the MDA and CAT levels were significantly higher for the indomethacin and control (300mg/kg only) group when compared with other groups. The result of this study shows that the control group(3 ml/kg) Mean ± SEM antioxidant status were recorded as follows MDA (25.68 ± 0.01) μmol/l, SOD (5.31 ± 0.01) U/ml and CAT (128.37 ± 0.02)U/L. Induced Wistar rats, administered with different concentration of A. boonei leaves, stem and roots and 300mg/kg only of A. boonei leaves, stem and root was administered without formalin induction and the result showed, leaves, MDA (31.34 ± 0.08) μmol/l, SOD (3.89 ± 0.02) U/ml and CAT (131.78 ± 0.82) U/L. Stem MDA (38.21 ± 0.01) μmol/l, SOD (4.18 ± 0.01) U/ml and CAT (166.19 ± 0.20) U/L. Root MDA (32.84 ± 1.36) μmol/l, SOD (5.50 ± 0.47) U/ml and CAT (211.17 ± 3.65) U/L. It is important to note that the outcome of this study suggests that certain plants and plant- derived compounds may have antioxidant properties. From this study, we can conclusively say that Alstonia boonei stem, leaves, and roots possess compounds with antioxidant properties, effectiveness and safety in preventing or reducing oxidative stress.
