Abstract

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the effects of crude extract of Carica papaya leaves on oxidative stress in mice induced by cyclophosphamide, as well as phytochemical profile characterization of this extract.METHODS: The male Swiss mice received 15 days of treatment with the extract (500 mg kg-1, via gavage) and intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (75 mg kg-1) or saline (0.9%) on the 15th day. After 24 h the last treatment, the animals were anesthetized for blood withdrawal, sacrificed and removal of the organs for analyses (liver, kidney and heart). In the biochemical tests were determined: hematological parameters in blood, aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, glucose and total cholesterol dosages in plasma, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and lipid damage marker were evaluated in different tissues, besides genotoxic and histopathological analyzes.RESULTS: In the extract of Carica papaya leaves, the flavonoids quercetin-3β-D-glucoside and rutin were identified, besides present positive results for alkaloids, saponins and tannins. This extract increased the activity of glutathione-S-transferase and catalase enzymes in the liver and reduced the levels of reduced glutathione in the kidneys and hematocrit levels, red cell count, and hemoglobin. It promoted the decrease of the reactive species of thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) in the kidneys and the activity of enzyme aspartate aminotransferase in the plasma and was antimutagenic in the micronucleus test.CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that extract of Carica papaya was beneficial against oxidative events and prevented DNA damage. The extract also showed hepatotoxicity, therefore prolonged infusion of papaya leaves is not advisable.

Highlights

  • Free radicals are molecules or molecular fragments containing one or more unpaired electrons, a condition that confers high reactivity and may present considerable interference in cellular integrity [1]

  • In the extract of Carica papaya leaves, the flavonoids quercetin-3β-D-glucoside and rutin were identified, besides present positive results for alkaloids, saponins and tannins. This extract increased the activity of glutathione-S-transferase and catalase enzymes in the liver and reduced the levels of reduced glutathione in the kidneys and hematocrit levels, red cell count, and hemoglobin

  • It promoted the decrease of the reactive species of thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) in the kidneys and the activity of enzyme aspartate aminotransferase in the plasma and was antimutagenic in the micronucleus test

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Summary

Introduction

Free radicals are molecules or molecular fragments containing one or more unpaired electrons, a condition that confers high reactivity and may present considerable interference in cellular integrity [1]. The organism has an antioxidant defense system, enabling the evaluation of oxidative stress by means of analysis of some antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and others such as reduced such as reduced gluthatione (GSH). GST, or can act directly in free radical scanning [3].An additional parameter useful in evaluating oxidative stress is the lipid peroxidation generated in the cellular membranes. This triggers several actions harmful to the cell, which can result in its death. The antineoplastic activity of CP is due to phosphoramide mustard, which promotes the alkylation of DNA, in addition to the other metabolite, acrolein, which interferes with the antioxidant system producing reactive species, superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide, leading to toxicity of various organs [6]

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