Abstract 1138 "MODULATORY EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDATIVE POTENTIALS OF N- HEXANE EXTRACT OF RICINODENDRON HEUDELOTII (BAIL.) PIERRE IN HYDROGEN PEROXIDE- STRESSED DROSOPHILA AND COMPUTATIONAL STUDIES OF ITS BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS"

Ricinodendron heudelotii (Bail.) Pierre (R. heudelotii) plant also called "Njangsa" is an oily seed tree with high antioxidative potential. In Nigeria, the Hausa name for this plant is Wááwán-kúrmìì. The study sought to investigate the modulatory role of R. heudelotii (HORH) in an oxidative-stressed (Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)) Drosophila melanogaster and to carry out a computational study of its bioactive compounds. All assays were carried out following standard protocols. D. melanogaster (both genders) of 1 to 3 days old were exposed to different concentrations of HORH (12.5, 18.7, 31.2, and 62.5μL/5g diet) for 21 days and thus the survival rate was determined. HORH (312.5mg/5g diet) was fed to D.melanogaster and/or H2O2 (0.02%) for a period of 5days. The effect of HORH in H2O2 - stressed flies was evaluated using the following; fecundity, climbing activity and some oxidative stress biomarkers. Computational studies of the biomolecules of HORH were carried out; molecular docking, ADMET analysis and pharmacophore modelling. The results showed that R. heudelotii decreased the mortality rate of flies in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, it ameliorated Hydrogen peroxide-induced alterations of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase enzymatic activities and also reduced the malondialdehyde and total thiol content (p<0.05). In-silico studies corroborated the in vivo results, which showed most compounds of HORH, have a higher binding affinity against CAT, SOD, GSH and GST protein targets. In conclusion, R.heudelotii seed augmented the antioxidative system of D. melanogaster which indicates that, bioactive compounds of R.heudelotii can be useful in the management of oxidative stress.