European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 17 - Number 2
Eur J Anat, 17 (2): 72-81 (2013)

Evaluation of antioxidant potential of methanolic leaf extract of Anacardium Occidentale (Linn) on the testes of streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar rats

Victor Ukwenya1, Olumide Ashaolu1, David Adeyemi2, Efere Obuotor2, Abiola Tijani3, Abayomi Biliaminu4 and Ezekiel Caxton-Martins5

1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria,2Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria,3Department of Biochemistry, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria,4Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria,5Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT Anacardium occidentale is a plant with reported anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. The objective of this work was to determine the effects of Anacardium occidentale leaf extract (AOLE) on the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and anti-oxidant enzymes (Glutathione peroxidase, GPx and superoxide dismutase, SOD) in the testicular homogenate of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Forty (40) wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were randomly divided into four experimental groups. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (70 mg/kg b.w.). Five days after the confirmation of hyperglycemia, Groups A and B were treated with 300 mg/kg b.w of the extract and 1 I.U/kg b.w. insulin respectively. Groups C and D served as hyperglycemic and normal controls respectively. Animals were sacrificed 16 days after treatment. Our study showed that AOLE ameliorated the level of TBARS and improved the activities of G-6-PDH, SOD and GPx in the testes of extract-treated rats.

Keywords: Anacardium occidentale, Diabetes, Hyperglycemia, Anti-oxidant, Oxidative stress

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)