Evaluation of different almond (Terminalia catappa) extracts against oxidative stress induced by cyclosporine in brain and liver of rats.

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of almond (Terminalia catappa) leaf (ALE) and stem bark (ABE) extracts on the enzyme activities and oxidative stress markers in the brain and liver tissues of cyclosporine-A (CsA) stressed male albino rats. Eighty-eight adult male rats weighing between 200 and 220g were randomly distributed to into 11 groups (n=8) and different doses (100 and 200mg/kg bwt.) of ALE and ABE were administered through oral gavages to the normal rats and 50mg/kg/bwt/day CsA-stressed, while normal control rats was given a saline solution (p.o), and the treatment lasted for 14days. Blood plasma, liver and brain tissues were prepared for biochemical analysis. Neuronal [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butrylcholinesterase (BChE) and arginase] enzyme activities and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) level, plasma aspartate transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, liver non-protein thiol (NPSH) level were analyzed. The results revealed that, the administration of CsA induced a significant increase in neuronal AChE, BChE, arginase, TBARS level, but decreased nitric oxide (NO) level. CsA also increased ALT, AST, and ALP activities in the blood plasma of CsA stress rats compared to normal control, but were significantly reversed respectively (p<0.001) upon treatment with the ALE and ABE dose-dependently. The study revealed that ALE and ABE could prevent neuronal dysfunction and liver toxicity induced by CsA administration, however, higher dose (200mg/kg) of the studied extracts appears to be more potent.