Ameliorative effect of Combretum dolichopentalum in CCl4- induced oxidative stress

The study evaluated the ability of the ethanol extract of Combretum dolichopentalum (EECD) to offer protection on rats perturbed by relatively low concentrations of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Five groups of 10 rats each were treated thus: Group 1 and group 2 constituting the normal and positive control group were maintained on food and water throughout the study. Group 3, 4, and 5 received 250, 500 mg/kg body weight of EECD and 50 mg/kg of silymarin for 28 days respectively. All groups except group 1 were exposed to 0.2 ml/kg body weight of CCl4 intraperitonealy on day 29.  Serums from the rats were assayed for antioxidant and liver specific enzyme. Lipid profile and peroxidation product as well as antioxidant molecules were determined to check the oxidative as well as the liver status of the test organism. Standard biochemical methods were employed for the assay and results were subject to statistical analysis using one way ANOVA. Administration of CCl4 at 0.2 ml/kg b.w slightly altered the redox status of the rats; however, pre-treatment with the ethanol extract of C. dolichopentalum dose dependently stabilized the altered perturbation. This potential indicates that the crude EECD could be employed to correct minor oxidative imbalances as a result of CCl4 intoxication, C. dolichopentalum has been reported to possess a wide array of bioactive phytochemicals, and also reported not to present significant side effects when administered. Thus C. dolichopentalum could be a pharmacological tool needed to offer protection on liver during toxic assault from accidentally ingested toxicants such as carbon tetrachloride.