ABSTRACT
Objective: This study was done to determine and evaluate the level of antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) in preeclamptic women. Method: 100 preeclamptic and 100 healthy pregnant women between the age of 20-32 attending General Hospital Owerri were selected in this study. Fasting veinous blood was collected and was used for the estimation of antioxidant enzymes and malondiadehyde. Result: The result obtained showed that the level of MDA was significantly increased in preeclamptic pregnant women when compared with the healthy control (P<0.05). On the other hand, the level of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was significantly reduced in preeclamptic women when compared with the control(P<0.05). Conclusions: This observation showed that the antioxidants are excessively used to attenuate the cellular changes mediated by free radicals. Hence, the level of antioxidants are depleted.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the hypolipidemic effects of aqueous extract of Acalypha capitata (A. capitata) leaves in rats fed on high cholesterol diet. Methods:Cholesterol diet was administered to Wistar rats at a dose of 40 mg per 0.2 mL 3 times daily for 14 days while the control received distilled water. These animals were treated with extract of A. capitata at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. Lipid profiles were observed and compared. Results:Administration of A. capitata caused significant decrease in cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol when compared with the control (P<0.05) which was dose dependent. Also, it was observed that high density lipoprotein-cholesterol was significantly increased when compared with the control. Conclusions:This observation suggests that the leaf extract of A. capitata could probably serve as a potential natural product for treatment of hyperlipidaemia.