Comparative Study of Tissues Oxidative Stress in Hydrocotyl bonariensis Treated Rats Fed Dietary Galactose

Abstract

Studies on toxicity of galactose and its management have been largely concentrated on the lens. The present study compared the oxidative stress that occured in various tissues of rats placed on dietary galactose and simultaneously administered with different doses of Hydrocotyl bonariensis leaf extract. Male wealing rats placed on dietary galactose and administered (orally) with different doses of the extract were used in the study. After 4 weeks of study, a significant increased level of lens and liver peroxidation with reduced activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione (GSH) were observed in rats placed on dietary galactose whereas the kidney was not significantly affected though superoxide dismutase activity of the kidney increased. Administration of 500mg/kg of extract lowered the level of peroxidation of these tissues and significantly increased the catalase activity and GSH level while superoxide dismutase activity only increased in the lens and the kidney. Our findings suggest that the lens and liver were the most at risk of oxidative stress generated with dietary galactose. The Hydrocotyl bonariensis leaf possesses active components that may be beneficial in reducing the effect of the oxidative stress.