*4.3. Animals*

The University of Zululand Research Ethics Committee (UZREC) granted ethical clearance (UZREC 171110-030 PGM 2016/321) for use of laboratory animals (Sprague Dawley rats). Sprague Dawley rats (*n* = 30) were collected from the animal unit of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Zululand. The animals were housed in standard cages (maximum of four rats per cage) and maintained at room temperature (23–25 ◦C; relative humidity ~50%) with a 12:12-h light/dark cycle as per stipulated national guidelines for the care and use of animals. All the rats were in good state of health and were allowed to acclimatize to the experimental set-up for a week before the experiment was conducted. Unless stated otherwise, all the animals had free access to drinking water and normal rat feed throughout the experimental period.
