Abstract

Plant-based dietary components and added substances are known to shield cells from oxidative stress. This research was conducted to ascertain the protective effect of methanolic extract of Holarrhena floribunda against arsenite-initiated oxidative stress in the lungs of male albino rats. Thirty-six (36) adult rats with normal weight of 160 g were partitioned into six (6) groups marked A-F and treated as follows; Group A (negative control) was given distilled water, while 100 and 200 mg/kg weight of the leaf extract were given by oral gavage to groups C and D, and groups E and F individually, for 14 consecutive days. 5 mg/kg weight of Sodium arsenite was intraperitoneally administered to groups B (positive control), D and F, 24 h before sacrifice. Aftereffects of Glutathione reductase (GSH), Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and total protein on post-mitochondrial portion of the lung homogenates demonstrated that sodium arsenite decreased GSH and GPX, while increment in total protein was observed. Co-administration of extract at 100 and 200 mg/kg with sodium arsenite expanded GSH by 5 and 44.3%, and GPX by 38.6 and 10%, while total protein diminished by 10 and 7.5% separately. The investigation demonstrated that the extract can possibly improve arsenite-induced lung oxidative stress and toxicity.