ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF HYMENOCARDIA ACIDA ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACTS IN KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE INDUCED INFLAMMATION IN INDUCIBLE NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE (INOS) EXPRESSION AND SERUM LIVER ENZYME IN MALE RATS

ABSTRACT The ethanol leaf extracts of Hymenocardia Acida leaf and stem bark were evaluated for its potential ameliorative effects against oxidative stress induced by ketamine hydrochloride in male wistar rats. Ketamine, a dissociative anaesthetic is known to cause systemic toxicity through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative damage and compromised antioxidant defenses. In this study, male wistar rats were administered ketamine hydrochloride to induce oxidative stress, followed by treatment with ethanol extracts of Hymenocardia Acida leaf and stem bark at varying concentrations. Biochemical assays demonstrated that ketamine hydrochloride administration significantly supressed the activities of key antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), indicating an increased oxidative stress. However, administration of Hymenocardia Acida extracts significantly restored and enhanced the activities of these enzymes in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting an improved antioxidant defense mechanisms. These results support the potential therapeutic role of Hymenocardia Acida in mitigating oxidative damage and restoring redox balance in ketamine-induced toxicity. These findings suggest that Hymenocardia Acida possesses potent antioxidant properties and may serve as a natural therapeutic agent for managing ketamine-induced toxicity.