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EFFECT OF JATROPHA TANJORENSIS LEAVES SUPPLEMENT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF SOME ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES, VITAMINS AND LIPID PEROXIDATION IN RATS
Author(s) -
OMOREGIE E.S.,
OSAGIE A.U.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of food biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.507
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-4514
pISSN - 0145-8884
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-4514.2010.00392.x
Subject(s) - superoxide dismutase , malondialdehyde , catalase , antioxidant , oxidative stress , lipid peroxidation , vitamin c , reactive oxygen species , food science , vitamin e , chemistry , vitamin , biochemistry , biology
This study evaluated the effect of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves supplements on the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin E, vitamin C and malondialdehyde in male albino rats of the Wistar strain. Nutritional oxidative stress was induced in these animals by using low protein diet. The results showed significant reduction ( P < 0.05) in malondialdehyde level in the rats fed the leaves supplemented diet with significant increase ( P < 0.05) in the concentrations of vitamin C and vitamin E relative to controls. The catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly reduced ( P < 0.05) in the rats fed the low protein diet while these parameters were increased ( P < 0.05) in the rats fed the leaves supplements as compared with control values. The study therefore suggests that J. tanjorensis leaves may have anti‐oxidative potential against reactive oxygen species that are produced in protein energy malnutrition.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Nutritional oxidative stress, especially in protein energy malnutrition (PEM), is characterized by increase in the production of reactive oxygen species due to an imbalance between the prooxidant load and the antioxidant defense system. Nevertheless, numerous studies have shown that increased dietary intake of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables may diminish the risk for most degenerative diseases. The results from this in vivo study also suggest that Jatropha tanjorensis leaves possess antioxidative effect in rats exposed to nutritional oxidative stress using a low protein diet. This was a preliminary study which validates local claims that the plant leaves possess therapeutic property. The plant leaves may form part of the first‐line food supplement employed in the reduction of nutritional oxidative stress that is produced in PEM, by enhancing the anti‐oxidant defense system and providing nutritional support for growth and development during the early stages of rehabilitation.