Anthocleista djalonensis ON THE LIVER OF WISTAR RATS

Medicinal plants have long been integral to healthcare, forming the foundation of traditional medicine across many cultures. This study evaluated the in vivo antioxidant activity of the aqueous root extract of Anthocleista djalonensis (Loganiaceae) in the livers of adult Wistar rats. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups of six. Group I served as the control and received 2 ml of distilled water orally. Groups II, III, and IV were administered 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg of the aqueous root extract, respectively, for 28 days. After sacrifice, livers were isolated, weighed, and homogenised in cold normal saline. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. The extract had no significant effect on CAT and SOD activities compared to control (p > 0.05), but significantly reduced MDA levels (p < 0.05). Liver weight remained unchanged (p > 0.05). These results indicate that Anthocleista djalonensis root extract exhibits promising antioxidant properties, particularly through direct free radical scavenging