Antioxidant potential of Citrus maxima fruit juice in rats

Oyedepo, T. A.

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Adeleke University, P.M.B. 250, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria

E-mail: oyedepo004tope@yahoo.com

Accepted 04 June, 2012

Abstract

In the etiology of many pathological conditions increased levels of oxidative stress may be implicated. The protective antioxidant action imparted by many plant extracts and plant products make them promising therapeutic drugs for free radical induced pathologies. In this study the antioxidant potential of Citrus maxima fruit juice was assessed. Experimental rats were divided into two groups: Control and Citrus maxima treated. Treated rats received C. maxima fruit juice at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight/day for 8 weeks. After the treatment period of 8 weeks, lipid peroxidation (LPO), vitamin C, uric acid and reduced glutathione (GSH) were estimated in plasma and antioxidant enzymes: Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also assayed. Genotoxicity of Citrus maxima fruit juice was assessed by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) of lymphocytes under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. The protective role of Citrus maxima juice against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), streptozotocin (STZ) and nitric oxide generating system induced lymphocyte DNA damage was also assessed by SCGE. Citrus maxima treated rats showed a significant decrease in plasma LPO and a significant increase in plasma vitamin C, uric acid, GSH levels and GPx, CAT and SOD activities. SCGE experiment reveals that Citrus maxima fruit juice was devoid of genotoxicity and had a significant protective effect against induced lymphocyte DNA damage by H₂O₂, STZ and nitric oxide (NO). The results suggest that consumption of Citrus maxima juice can be linked to improved antioxidant status and reduction in the risk of oxidative stress.

Keywords: Antioxidants, Citrus maxima, lymphocytes, Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis  (SCGE).