ABSTRACT
Background: Aluminum is present in several manufactured foods and medicines and is also used in water purifi cation. It is known that aluminum induces an oxidative stress characterized by an increase in lipid peroxidation and depletion of antioxidants. Therefore, the present experiment was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of hydroalcoholic extract of root bark of Salacia oblonga (SOHE) in modulating the aluminum chloride (AlCl3) induced oxidative stress in rats. Methods: Animals were assigned into four groups: control; AlCl3 300 mg/kg b.w.; Salacia 67 mg/kg; AlCl3 (300 mg/kg b.w.) plus Salacia (67 mg/kg b.w.), respectively. Rats were orally administered their respective doses daily for 36 days. The effect of these treatments in infl uencing the aluminum induced biochemical changes on liver, kidney, lungs, and heart were studied. Result: The results showed that S. oblonga produced signifi cant (p<0.05) reduction of malondialdehyde, while the activities of superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, glutathione S-transferase and catalase were positively modulated. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that S. oblonga protects against aluminuminduced oxidative stress, which is an important fi nding that further reinforces the antioxidant properties of this natural product.