Assessment of the antioxidant potential ofCnidoscolous chayamansa

The current study is an effort to investigate the chemical constituents and antioxidant potential of Cnidoscolous chayamansa McVaugh (Euphorbiacea) root on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. Albino rats were grouped into four: A - D. Groups A and B received 1 mL/kg BW of olive oil and 1 mL/kg body weight (BW) of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), respectively, for 8 days while those in C and D received 1 mL/ kg BW each of CCl4 and 500 and 1000 mg/kg BW of aqueous extract of C. chayamansa root, respectively, for the same period. Chemical analysis of the plant root revealed the presence of tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, Fe, Zn, Mg, Ca, vitamins A and C. Administration of CCl4 resulted in significant increase (P <0.05) in liver malondialdehyde concentration while the activities of liver alkaline phosphatase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were significantly reduced (P <0.05). Simultaneous administration of CCl4 and the plant extract at 500 and 1000 mg/kg BW produced values of these biochemical parameters that compared favourably with the control (P >0.05) in addition to increasing superoxide dismutase activity in the liver (P <0.05). We conclude that aqueous extract of C. chayamansa root possessed antioxidant activity and protected the hepatocyte against CCl4-induced damage. The antioxidant activity of the plant may be due to its chemical constituents.