Osineye, S.O., Sunmonu, T.O. and Abey, N. Protective Effect of Chromolena odorata Aqueous Leaf Extract on Inflammation and Oxidative Damage in Sephadex-Induced Athsmatic Wistar Rats, Al-Hikmah Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences Vol. 5 (2017): 17-23.
Abstract
The aqueous leaf extract of Chromolena odorata was investigated for its effects on inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters in sephadex-induced airway inflammation in Wistar rats. Sephadex-treated rats (5 mg/ml) were pre-treated 1 hour earlier with 100 and 200 mg/kg bodyweight of the extract and dexamethasone (2 mg/kg bodyweight) as standard drug. The animals were sacrificed 24 h later. The levels of inflammatory cells and oxidative damage were investigated through bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell count, antioxidant enzyme activity assays and histological analysis of the lung tissue. Sephadex treatment caused a significant increase in total and individual inflammatory cell counts in the rat lungs while increasing the concentrations of MDA and lowering the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. These were however reversed in rats pretreated with aqueous leaf extract of Chromolena odorata and dexamethasone. These results indicate that the extract may prevent inflammatory cell recruitment and oxidative damage associated with asthma episodes.