The antioxidative potentials of Methanol extract of Nauclea latifolia leaves on ciprofloxacin induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxic damage in rats was studied. Forty mature albino rats of the Wistar strain weighing between 200g and 300g were used, divided into four groups of ten each. Ciprofloxacin (70mg/kg/day) for 14 days was administered; Plasma and liver homogenate antioxidants were measured. Vitamin C, vitamin E concentrations, Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were estimated by employing colorimetric method while malondialdehyde was by Standard curve method..Result showed that plasma and liver homogenate lipid peroxidation marker (malondialdehyde, MDA) increased significantly (P <0.005) when compared with the controls. The activities of blood and liver homogenate of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were also reduced significantly (P <0.005) in rats treated with ciprofloxacin when compared with the controls. Furthermore, levels of plasma and liver homogenate of vitamin C and E also reduced significantly (P <0.005) in rats treated with ciprofloxacin when compared with the controls. In reverse, the activities of blood and liver homogenate of enzymic antioxidants; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and levels of plasma and liver homogenate of non enzymic antioxidants also increased significantly on treatment with methanol extract of N. latifolia leaves. The results were also dose dependent. It was concluded that ciprofloxacin can induce hepatotoxic and oxidative damage in rats and treatment with methanol extract of Nauclea latifolia leaves reversed the effects.
