The ability of aqueous extract of Scoparia dulcis to protect tissues of rabbits against Trypanosoma brucei-induced oxidative damage was investigated in this study. Fifteen New Zealand White rabbits divided into 3 groups of 5 animals each were used for the study. Animals in group 1 served as controls while those in groups 2 and 3 were inoculated with Trypanosoma brucei. In addition, animals in group 3 received aqueous extract of Scoparia dulcis at a daily dose of 200mg/Kg administered orally. Results obtained show that infection of rabbits with T. brucei resulted in a significant increase in oxidative stress as measured by tissue Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) in the liver and kidney, but not in the heart of infected animals. Whereas both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were significantly reduced in the liver and kidney 28 days post-inoculation; the decrease in SOD activity in the heart was accompanied by an increase in catalase activity in that tissue. Treatment with S. dulcis at a daily oral dose of 200mg/Kg body weight resulted in a significant protection against the trypanosome-induced oxidative stress, with a significant reduction in the level of TBARS and an improvement in both SOD and catalase levels.
NEJ Orhue, OF Amegor
