ORAL SUPPLEMENTATION OF CISSUS POLPUNEA AND CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA ENHANCED SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY AND OXIDATIVE STATUS OF TROPICAL RABBITS

Abstract

The effect of Cissus populnea stem bark extract (CpSTe), with or without the addition of Citrus aurantifolia extract (CAe), was evaluated on the serum biochemistry and oxidative status of rabbits in the tropics over 34 days. Twenty-four (24) New Zealand White female rabbits were divided into four
groups of six rabbits each, designated as Treatment 1-4 (T1-T4). T1 received no extract (Control), T2 was given 2 mL of CAe per kg body weight, T3 received 2 mL of CpSTe per kg body weight, and T4 was given a combination of CAe (1 mL) + CpSTe (1 mL)/kg body weight. At the end of the experiment, a 5 mL blood sample was collected from the marginal ear vein of three rabbits per treatment using a syringe and needle; out of which 3 mLwas dropped into plain bottles to obtain serum for biochemical analysis, while a 2 mL blood sample was dropped into heparinized bottles for hematological assessments The proximate and phytochemical analyses of CPST revealed carbohydrate (67.85%) and tannin (126.60 mg/100 g) as the predominant constituents.Administration of CA significantly (p<0.05) increased the total serum cholesterol in T2, while a decrease was observed in rabbits under T1 (no administration) and T4.Administering 2 mL of CP (T3) significantly (p<0.05) raised the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and GSH in the rabbits. The use of CpSTe and CAe separately, rather than combined, could effectively improve the redox status in tropical rabbits.