O M Ighodaro1, O A T Ebuehi. 1. Department of Biochemistry, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ocimum gratissimum is a vegetable plant of wide nutritional and medicinal aŕpplications in Nigeria and in some other parts of the world. OBJECTIVE: The effect of oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum on the activities of plasma and hepatic anti-oxidant enzymes in rats was investigated. METHODS: Two different doses of aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum (0.2 mg/g and 0.4 mg/kg body weight) were separately administered orally daily into rats for 4 weeks. The rats were sacrificed after 30 days of administration, blood was collected and the liver excised. The liver was homogenized, while plasma and hepatic anti-oxidant enzymes, namely catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione -S- transferase (GST) specific activities were assayed. RESULTS: Results of the study showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the specific activity of both plasma and hepatic CAT and SOD in a dose dependent pattern. However, the effect of the leaf extract on GST specific activity was not significant (p > 0.05) as compared to the control. There were no significant changes in the plasma and liver protein concentrations in rats administered the extracts as compared to the control. CONCLUSION: Data of the study suggest that the oral administration of the aqueous extract of O. gratissimum may impair naturally generated oxidant/toxicant activity and thereby enhance specific activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes in rats.
BACKGROUND:Ocimum gratissimum is a vegetable plant of wide nutritional and medicinal aŕpplications in Nigeria and in some other parts of the world. OBJECTIVE: The effect of oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum on the activities of plasma and hepatic anti-oxidant enzymes in rats was investigated. METHODS: Two different doses of aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum (0.2 mg/g and 0.4 mg/kg body weight) were separately administered orally daily into rats for 4 weeks. The rats were sacrificed after 30 days of administration, blood was collected and the liver excised. The liver was homogenized, while plasma and hepatic anti-oxidant enzymes, namely catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione -S- transferase (GST) specific activities were assayed. RESULTS: Results of the study showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the specific activity of both plasma and hepatic CAT and SOD in a dose dependent pattern. However, the effect of the leaf extract on GST specific activity was not significant (p > 0.05) as compared to the control. There were no significant changes in the plasma and liver protein concentrations in rats administered the extracts as compared to the control. CONCLUSION: Data of the study suggest that the oral administration of the aqueous extract of O. gratissimum may impair naturally generated oxidant/toxicant activity and thereby enhance specific activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes in rats.