Nutritional Compositions and In-vivo Antioxidant Effect of Corchorus olitorius Ethanol Leaf Extract in CCl4-induced Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of various disease conditions with concomitant toll on the body’s defense mechanism against free radicals. To continuously sustain and support the efficiency of the body’s antioxidant defense system, natural plant sources are required. Thus, the need for alternative options especially of plants that are neglected and under-utilized. Hence, this study aimed at investigating the proximate and phytochemical compositions and in-vivo antioxidant effect of ethanol leaf extract of C. olitorius on antioxidant enzyme activities in CCl4-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats.

Methods: Thirty albino rats of Wistar strain (120-150g) were divided into six groups (A – F) of five rats each. Groups A, B and C served as test groups and were administered 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg doses of C. olitorius leaf extract respectively while Group D served as normal control. Groups E and F served as the positive and negative controls and were administered 50 mg/kg Silymarin and distilled water respectively. The administration lasted for 15 days after which blood was collected via cardiac puncture.

Results: Findings showed that the leaf was rich in total phenol (21.47 ± 0.00 mgGAE/g) and tannin (23.34 ± 0.75 mgTAE/g) with little quantity of oxalate (0.48 ± 0.09 mg/g), cardiac glycosides (0.30 ± 0.07 %) and phytate (0.25 ± 0.01 %). The result of the proximate composition revealed that the leaf was rich in carbohydrate (44.16 ± 1.21 %), ash (20.31 ± 0.51 %) and protein (11.29 ± 2.06 %) with negligible quantity of lipid (0.46 ± 0.11 %). More so, the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were all increased in the extract treated group when compared to the controls.

Conclusion: From the above findings, it can be concluded that the ethanol leaf extract of C. olitorius may possess exploitable nutritional components and potential antioxidant activity against the debilitating effects of free radicals.