<i>Tridax procumbens</i> Leaf Extract Mitigated Vincristine-Induced Organ Pathology and Oxidative Imbalances in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the effect of Tridax procumbens (TP), a medicinal plant, on Vincristine sulphate (VC)-induced oxidant-antioxidant imbalances in the liver and pancreas of male Wistar rats. Methods: Thirty rats (80-100 g) were randomly allocated into six groups (Groups 1–6) and treated as follows: Group 1 (control) received 1 mL/kg body weight distilled water orally (p.o.), Group 2 received 0.1 mg/kg body weight VC intraperitoneally (i.p.), Groups 3 and 4 received 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight TP extract orally (p.o.), respectively. Group 5 received VC (0.1 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) plus TP (50 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) while Group 6 received VC (0.1 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) plus TP (100 mg/kg body weight, p.o.). The rats were treated for 10 consecutive days. Oxidant-antioxidant biomarkers and histology of the liver and pancreas of the rats were assessed. Results: Vincristine sulphate reduced the activities of Glutathione S-Transferase (GST), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) (p<0.05), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) (p<0.05), and reduced glutathione (GSH) (p<0.05) levels in the liver compared to the control group, while TP administration enhanced the activities and concentrations of these antioxidant parameters. In the pancreas, VC reduced the concentration of GSH (p<0.05) and the activities of GPx and SOD compared to the control group, while TP produced opposite effects in groups exposed to TP. VC increased the contents of Malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.05) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (p<0.05) generation and decreased total protein concentration in the liver and pancreas compared to the control group, with a counteracting effect by TP. Lastly, histological analysis of the liver exposed to VC showed moderate portal infiltration of inflammatory cells and random centrilobular degeneration, while there was more representation of islets of Langerhans and secretory acini cells in TP alone-treated rats. Conclusion: The Tridax procumbens ethanol leaf extract mitigated vincristine sulphate-induced oxidant-antioxidant imbalances in the liver and pancreas of experimental rats, thus reflecting its comparative advantage.