Aluminum Chloride-Induced Oxidative Damage to Serum and Combined Intervention of Ascorbic Acids and Massularia Acuminata On Selected Markers Of In Vivo Antioxidant Enzymes in Wistar Rats

This study evaluates the synergistic antioxidants effects of extracts of Massularia acuminata and ascorbic acid in aluminum chloride-treated oxidative stress in wistar albino rats with a view to investigate the preventive potential of co-administration of Massularia acuminata and ascorbic acids. The in vivo antioxidant properties of the extract were evaluated using in vivo catalase activity, superoxide dismutase activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay by standard methods via spectrophotometry. The in vivo studies were carried out on rats, grouped majorly into positive control, negative control and the treated groups. The positive control group was administered with normal saline (distilled water) orally, while the negative control group was orally induced with the toxicant (aluminium chloride). The treated group was orally administered with the extract after toxicant administration. Ascorbic acid was used as standard antioxidant in the study. The effects on enzymatic antioxidants and lipid indices were evaluated. Forty healthy Wistar rats sub-grouped into ten (10) groups were induced with aluminum chloride. Some rats were treated with ascorbic acid which is a well-known antioxidant, while others were treated with various extracts of Massularia acuminata (Pako Ijebu) at various doses. The experiment is designed as follows: in Group 1, animals were used as control group. Animals in Group 2 were the toxicant-treated groups administered with AlCl3 (34 mg/kg body weight). Ascorbic acid treated groups are the standard control (group 3) administered with 200 mg/kg body weight. Animals in Group 4 were co-treated with AlCl3 and Ascorbic acid (34 mg/kg aluminum chloride and 200 mg/kg body weight of ascorbic acid). Animals in group 5 were co-administered with ethanolic extract (50 mg/kg body weight) of Massularia acuminata and AlCl3 (34 mg/kg body weight), respectively. Animals in group 6 were also co-treated and administered with ethanolic extract of Massularia acuminate (100 mg/kg body weight) and AlCl3, respectively. Experimental animals in group 7 were equally co-administered with methanolic extract of Massularia acuminate (50 mg/kg body weight) and AlCl3, respectively. Animals in group 8 were co-administered with methanolic extract of Massularia acuminate (100 mg/kg body weight) and AlCl3, respectively. Group 9 animals were co-administered with butanolic extracts of Massularia acuminata (50 mg/kg body weight) and AlCl3, respectively. Group 10 experimental animals were also co-administered with butanolic extract of Massularia acuminate (100 mg/kg body weight) and AlCl3, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the animal was sacrificed after three weeks by cervical dislocation after they were immobilized using chloroform. Results show that ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Massularia acuminata contain antioxidant properties. Both doses of ethanolic extract dose (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight) group of methanol extract also reduced the level of MDA but not as ascorbic acid group. Both doses of methanolic extract of Masssularia acuminata act contrariwise from other extracts in that they show the highest level of malonaldehyde even more than AlCl3. The results of superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay test in this study show that the control group, ascorbic acid combined with AlCl3 group, 50 mg/kg body weight of ethanolic extract. Both doses of methanolic extract groups have the same comparative value of SOD. The group treated with toxicant (aluminum chloride) and ascorbic group has similar relative value. The group treated with 50 mg/kg body weight of butanolic extract shows the highest value of superoxide dismutase activity that follow closely by 100 mg/kg of ethanolic extract group. The study concluded that Massularia acuminata, like ascorbic acids, can induced antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and CAT in aluminium chloride-induced oxidative stressed rats. It may therefore be used to protect the body against any pathological attacks from free radical and oxidative insults.

Effects of Different Organic Manures on Early Seedling Growth of Massularia acuminata (G. Don) Bullock Ex Hoyle

Aims: Selection of suitable soil amendment is a very crucial attempt for improving seedling production and growth of Massularia acuminata as a forest nursery plants on a sustainable basis can be enhanced over a given period of time. Study Design: Comparative effects of different organic manures on the seedlings growth of Massularia acuminate. Place and Duration of Study: Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, between February, 2019 and August 2019. Methodology: Various concentrations of different types of organic manures; poultry manure, cow dung and horse dung were mixed with the topsoil separately to raise the seedlings of Massularia acuminata, comparative seedlings height growth, the stem diameter growth and the number of leaves per seedlings were examined to determine the development of the seedlings. Results: The results revealed that, organic manure application generally enhanced the growth of the seedlings, improved seedlings height, number of leaves and collar diameter. Also, with increasing rate of application of organic manures from 0 g to 50 g per seedlings, all seedlings growth parameters were improved. 10 g and 30 g manure had significant effects on plant growth with seedlings height 15.29 cm and 15.10 cm, number of leaves per seedlings (19.80 and 19.43) and collar diameter (6.58 mm and 6.57 mm) with Q2 and Q3 respectively as compared with the control (5.18 mm). Highest seedling growth was observed in poultry application with seedlings height 14.42 cm, number of leaves (19.63) and collar diameter (6.31 mm). Conclusion: The use of poultry manure and cattle dung at increased concentrations of 10 g and 30 g are recommended to be beneficial for sustainable healthy seedling production.