Chrysophyllum albidum G. is a tropi

Chrysophyllum albidum G. is a tropical plant and commonly found in Nigeria. It belongs to the sapotaceae
family and used in folklore in the treatment of yellow fever, malaria, diarrhea, vaginal and dermatological
infections. The study was aimed at investigating the antioxidant properties of this plant by employing the in
vitro and in vivo experimental models. The effect of DPPH free radical scavenging activity on the fractions of
petroleum ether, ethanol, butanol, ethylacetate, and water of C. albidum was determined. The ethyl acetate
fraction was purified in column chromatography to obtain myricetin rhamnoside. Structure elucidation was
done by NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, ethanol extract was administered to five groups
of eight rats per group. The animals in the normal group were administered with vehicle alone for 7 days. The
positive control animals were given vehicle on the first four days, and with the vehicle and hepatotoxin (CCl4)
on the fifth, sixth and seventh day. The animals in the treatment category were respectively administered with
500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg b.w. of extract & distilled water for the first four days, and with distilled water,
extract and CCl4 on the last three days. Animals were subsequently anaesthetized and blood samples were
collected for catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced gluthathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase
(SOD) assays. The petroleum ether fraction showed the least antiradical activity (4057.5 ± 809.6 g/kg) while
ethyl ether exhibited the highest activity (414.4 ± 92.0 g/kg). Myricetin rhamnoside also exhibited an excellent
radical scavenging activity (314.1 ± 60.2) which was comparable to the positive control. Result from animal
study showed that C. albidum exhibited significant (p < 0.05) differences on the activity of CAT, MDA and
GSH. The plant could therefore be employed as sources of natural antioxidant boosters and for the treatment of
some oxidative stress disorders in which free radicals are implicated.