Abstract

Alterations in the activities of some antioxidant enzymes, vitamins and malondialdehyde in rats fed the Jatropha tanjorensis leaves supplement

Author(s): E.S.Omoregie, A.U.Osagie

We determined the effect of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves supplements on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), vitamin E, vitamin C and malondialdehyde (MDA) in rats. Male albino rats of the Wistar strain were divided into six groups and maintained on normal diet (ND); normal diet supplemented with the leaves (ND+J) and fesolate (iron) tablet (ND+F); lowprotein diet (LPD); lowprotein diet supplemented with the leaves (LPD+J) and fesolate tablet (LPD+F) for six weeks. The result showed significant reduction (P<0.05) in malondialdehyde level in the rats fed the leaves supplemented diet but 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 were increased (p<0.05) in the rats fed the leaves supplements as compared with control values. The study therefore suggests that Jatropha tanjorensis leafmay have antioxidative potential against reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are produced in protein energy malnutrition.