Antioxidant Property of Total Saponins and Tannins of Dialium guineense Stem Bark in Rats Hearts Exposed to CCl4

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant property of total saponins and tannins of Dialium guineense stem bark in rats hearts exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ). A total of twenty-five (25) adult male Wistar rats, which weighed between 170 and 190 g (mean weight = 180 ± 10 g) were randomly assigned to five groups (5 rats per group): normal control, CCl4 control, silymarin, total saponins and total tannins groups. With the exception of normal control group, the rats were exposed to CCl4 (single oral dose of 1.0 mL/kg body weight, bwt). Rats in the silymarin group were administered 100 mg silymarin/kg bwt (standard cardioprotective drug), while those in the two treatment groups received 150 mg/kg bwt of total saponins or tannins orally for a period of 28 days. Activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were evaluated in heart homogenate. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the concentrations of cardiac total protein (TP) among the groups (p > 0.05). The activities of the antioxidant enzymes and level of reduced glutathione (GSH) were significantly lower in CCl4 control group than in normal control group, but they were increased by total saponins/tannins treatment (p < 0.05). However, the level of cardiac malondialdehyde (MDA) elevated by CCl4 intoxication was markedly reduced after treatment (p < 0.05). These results indicate that total saponins and tannins of D. guineense stem bark may enhance antioxidant defense in rats hearts exposed to CCl4.