Anti-Oxidative Stress Capabilities of Ethanolic Leaf-Extract of <i>Cajanus cajan</i> (Linn) Against Ethanol-Provoked Oxidative Stress in Wister Rats

Cajanus cajan (Linn) is a plant with known medicinal properties, including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The antioxidative stress capabilities of ethanolic leaf-extract of Cajanus cajan (linn) against ethanol-provoked oxidative stress in wister rats were determined by examining the levels of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Malondialdehyde (MDA) and histopathology of the Wister rats’ liver. 30 Wister rats were completely randomized into 6 groups of A-F with each group having 5 rats. Group A (Normal control) was given normal saline only. Group B (Standard control) was given 5mg/kg body weight of Silymarin as standard drug; group C (Positive control) was given 3.7g/kg body weight of 99.7% ethanol only while rats in groups (D, E, F) were given graded doses of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600 mg/kg body weights of the leaf-extract respectively. Groups B and (D, E, F) were given 3.7g/kg body weight of 99.7% ethanol, 3 hours later, Silymarin (standard drug) and leaf-extract were given respectively for 21 days. Oxidative stress indices and histopatological studies were both done using standard procedures. SOD and CAT were significantly (P&lt;0.05) decreased in Positive control compared to the levels observed in Standard and Normal control groups while MDA level increased significantly (P&lt;0.05) in Positive control relative to other control groups. However, rat groups that received the leaf-extract of Cajanus cajan showed significant (P&lt;0.05) reversal in the trend of these parameters to levels comparable to those observed in the standard and Normal control groups. We therefore conclude that ethanol leaf-extracts of Cajanus cajan contains important antioxidants which could prevent alcohol-induced oxidative stress in wister rats’ liver.