EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF TREMA ORIENTALIS ON OXIDATIVE STRESS OF RENAL AND HEPATIC TISSUE OF SODIUM NITROPRUSSIDE TREATED RAT

Oxidative stress contributes significantly to hepatic and renal injury by generating reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that damage lipids, proteins, and DNA. This study evaluated the antioxidant potential of the aqueous leaf extract of Trema orientalis against sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced oxidative stress in rat liver and kidney tissues. Four healthy male Wistar rats (120–140 g) were used. After a two-week acclimatisation period, the animals were sacrificed, and hepatic and renal tissues were harvested, weighed, and homogenised in cold normal saline. The homogenates were centrifuged, and oxidative stress was induced in vitro with 10 mM SNP. The supernatants were treated with various concentrations (0.1–0.4 mg/mL) of T. orientalis aqueous extract, prepared by soaking 100 g of dried leaf powder in 500 mL of distilled water for 48 hours, followed by filtration and concentration using a rotary evaporator. Biochemical assays were conducted to evaluate lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and reduced glutathione (GSH). MDA was measured via TBARS, NO using Griess reagent, and GSH via Ellman’s reagent (DTNB). Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA with significance set at p