ABSTRACTÂ
Leaf extracts of Ficus exasperata are commonly used in Afro tropical medicine for the treatment of several pathological states including inflammatory disorders. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant effect of an methanolic extract of F. exasperata (FEE)in westar rats. The antioxidant potential of the extract was investigated in in vitro experimental models such as DPPH, nitric oxide and ferric reducing antioxidant power in this study. Biochemical studies were carried out to determine the liver function by measuring body weights and levels of albumin, aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase, total and direct bilirubin. The extract was prepared by dissolving dried ficus leaves in methanol for about 3 days . For acute toxicity study, the animals were weighed and separated into three groups and where given seven days for acclimatization and fed grower pallets and water as much as possible daily. A single-dose acute toxicity test was done by oral administration, for the first phase, nine rats were selected which were given extract concentration gotten from weighing of the rats in each group, which weighed from 140-159g and each rats weight calculated with the extract quantity given to their groups, the extract concentration was gotten as 4.27mg for group 1, 45mg for group 2 and 470mg for group 3 which was later dissolved in 3ml of distilled water . For phase one, after the duration of 24 hours of administration, no mortality was observed but it was observed that group 1 with the lowest dose were not really active compared to group 2 and 3. For phase 2, 3 rats with the highest weights (150g, 151g, 154g) were selected and put in 3 groups with consists of a single rat, the extract quantity were increased for phased two . After administration there was no mortality or toxicity observed. For sub -acute test the rats were divided into 4 groups (group 1, 2, 3, 4) which contained 6 rats in each group. After administration of the extract, the results showed no significant difference in almost all the liver function (p>0.05) except for total protein which showed a significant difference between the control and other treated rats (p<0.05). For the antioxidant study, only ferric reducing antioxidant power showed significant difference (p<0.05) while DPPH and nitric oxide showed no significant difference (p>0.05). This experiment indicates that the ficus exasperata extract did not manifest any acute or subacute toxicity effects on the liver. However, there were significant increases in total protein which could be as a result of dehydration and increase in ferric reducing antioxidant power.
