ISSN 2756-3855
International Journal of Urology and Nephrology ISSN 2756-3855 Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-005 January, 2023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
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: [email protected]
Accepted 04 November, 2022
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)