Abstract
Combretum molle, a natural medicinal plant where all its parts are used for treatment of various disease. This study aimed to investigate the possible anti-aging activity and underlying mechanisms of methanolic leaf extract of Combretum molle on intestinal histopathological and morphological changes in aging Sprague Dawley rats . Thirty (30) male Sprague Dawley rats were divided in to five groups (n=6): control normal saline group that received subcutaneous injection of 150mg/ml//kg normal saline. The model was induced by subcutaneous injection D-galactose in normal saline 150mg/ml/kg dose for 90 days. Combretum molle treatment group received 500mg/ml/kg Combretum molle by oral gavage in normal saline, Combretum molle administration of a dose 500mg/ml/kg by oral gavage in D-galactose (150mg/ml/kg) induced for 90 days, Combretum molle administration of a dose 500mg/ml/kg by oral gavage in D-galactose induced rats for 45 days of a dose of 150mg/ml/kg. The results showed that the administration of Combretum molle via oral gavage after subcutaneous injection of D-galactose improved the histomorphometric parameters by repairing the inflamed intestinal mucosa. In addition, Combretum molle improved antioxidant enzymes activities in intestinal mucosa by increasing catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and reduced the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in comparison with the model group rats. However, no significant effect on SOD was observed. These results support that the methanolic Combretum molle leaf extracts possess anti-aging activity which is mediated by stimulation of increased antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory defence and mitigation of D-galactose induced intestinal tissue damage.