ABSTRACT
Picralima nitida, a medicinal plant from West and Central Africa, plays a crucial role in premodern medicine. This study examines the effects of the aqueous extract of stembark of this plant on Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in normal Sprague Dawley rats. The extract was prepared by cold maceration of P. nitida stem bark in water for several hours. Acute toxicity effect of the extract was investigated using the Lorke method, while subchronic toxicity involved thirty male adult rats, divided into six groups of five, administered doses of 150, 300, 800, 2000, and 5000 mg/kg, with a control group receiving distilled water. Results indicated no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) in SOD, CAT, and MDA activities in the liver and kidney. However, a decrement in MDA levels in the liver was observed at higher doses (2000 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg), and an increase in SOD and CAT activities at 150 mg/kg. In the kidney, lower doses (150, 300, 800 mg/kg) decreased SOD and CAT activities, while higher doses increased them. Graded doses of the extract led to dosedependent increases in blood flow and vasodilation in various organs. Despite some liver inflammation (portal hepatitis) at certain doses, characterized by vascular congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration, and bile duct changes, this inflammation diminished at higher doses. These findings suggest that Picralima nitida affects vascular activity and liver inflammation in a dose-related manner, with no statistically significant differences found between experimental conditions.
