Sustainable Role of Terminalia catappa Extract for Maintaining Antioxidant Activities in Wistar Rats

Abstract Oxidative stress is linked to various diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disorders, due to the imbalance between reactive oxygen species and the body’s antioxidant defenses. The use of natural antioxidants presents a sustainable approach to mitigating oxidative damage, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 12. This study evaluates the impact of repeated oral administration of Terminalia catappa aqueous extract (AETC) on antioxidant activities in Wistar rats over 28 days. The enzymatic activities and non-enzymatic concentration of endogenous antioxidants were investigated in the plasma and tissues at the end of the experiment. Results indicated increased renal superoxide dismutase, hepatic peroxidase, erythrocyte and renal glutathione-S-transferase activities. Hepatic reduced glutathione concentration was increased while plasma and renal malondialdehyde concentrations were reduced. These results emphasise AETC’s tissue-specific antioxidant effects and its potential as a protective agent against oxidative damage, consolidating the ethnobotanical use of Terminalia catappa leaves as a tonic for health-improving benefits promoting good health in addition to advocating for ecofriendly and sustainable health solutions. Further elucidatation of AETC antioxidant mechanisms and optimisation of its therapeutic applications is required.