Original Article Effects of Corchorus olitorius Extract on Certain Antioxidants and Biochemical Indices in Sodium Arsenite Exposed Rats Olaniyi T. Adedosu*1, Olufemi E. Akanni2, Olusegun K. Afolabi1 and Adebayo L. Adedeji1 1Department of Biochemistry Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. Oyo state Nigeria 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo. Nigeria ABSTRACT Objective: Corchorus olitorius is a household leafy vegetable with several medicinal uses. The anti-oxidative and certain biochemical indices of the methanol leaves extract in an in-vivo and in-vitro experiments were studied. Method: Phenols, Flavonoids were determined by Folin Ciocalteu and Aluminium chloride assays while Hydroxyl, 1-1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydraxyl (DPPH) radicals and Malondialdehyde levels measured using deoxyribose assay, DPPH and the reaction of Malondialdehyde with Thiobarbituric acid. Cholesterol, reduced glutathione (GSH) and enzyme assays were carried out using standardized methods. Results: Extract showed antioxidant activities as it scavenged hydroxyl, DPPH radicals and inhibited lipid peroxidation respectively in-vitro. Animals fed with extract for 21 days at 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight significantly (p<0.05) decrease MDA in a concentration- dependent manner by 2.02, 1.34, 0.76 and 0.02 mg/ml respectively. However, significant increases (p<0.05) in the tissue level of GSH was observed (52.80, 68.7, 81.80 and Address for 88.80 mg/ml). Furthermore, Extract at 100 mg/kg modulate sodium arsenite induced hepatotoxicity in rats, as combined treatment Correspondence significantly (p<0.05) decreases cholesterol and marker enzymes Department of activities (Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase and Biochemistry Ladoke Gamma glutamyl transferase) compared with intoxicated animals. Akintola University of Extract contained various amount of phenol and flavonoids from Technology, (2.250-3.500 mg/g) and (1.650-1.880 mg/g) respectively. Ogbomoso. Oyo state Conclusions: Extract shows anti oxidative properties reduces MDA Nigeria. and cholesterol level, enhance GSH increase and exhibit E-mail: hepatoprotective ability, suggestive of their bioactive polyphenol [email protected] components which may be explored as therapeutic agent for management, prevention and treatment of age – related diseases. American Journal of Phytomedicine and Clinical Therapeutics www.ajpct.org Adedosu et al________________________________________________ ISSN 2321 – 2748 Keywords: Anti-oxidative, Anti-lipid peroxidation, Corchorus Olitorius, Hepatoprotective, Polyphenols. INTRODUCTION Despite decades of research, the However nature remains the roles of free radicals-induced organ injury is primary source for cures to mans ailments still a matter of debate and currently a and diseases as antioxidants of natural serious issue in diagnosis of many diseases. source have been identified in many It is well known that free radicals cause cell medicinal plants which has raised various damage through mechanism of covalent interest in this field7. Numerous indigenous binding and lipid peroxidation leading to vegetables in Africa were consumed injury of the cell membranes1. Common free innocently without information on their - 8 radicals includes, superoxide anion (O2 ) dietary and health benefits , while many - Nitric oxide (NO), Peroxyl (RO2 ), Hydroxyl medicinal plants are currently gaining (OH), Lipid Peroxyl (LOO-), Alkyl (R-) and approval in the traditional treatment of alkoxy (RO-) radicals which are involved in diseases such as malaria9, about 800 plants various catalysis of enzymes, transition are currently documented with beneficial metals or biological systems2. However non- effects for treatment of diabetes10. free radicals species such as Hydrogen Interestingly, most suspected bioactive -1 Peroxide (H2O2), Singlet Oxygen (O2 ), components of these plants are believed to Ozone (O3), Lipid Peroxide (LOOH) are have important roles with natural other forms of activated oxygen generated antioxidant properties which are presumed from aerobic organisms capable of reacting to be safe since they occur in plants hence with most biological molecules including the need for laboratory based experiments proteins, lipids, lipoprotein and DNA3. The and investigations to validate these claims reactive ability of free radicals have been which forms the rationale for this study. considered responsible for a series of Corchorus olitorius (malvaceae), is a undesired processes such as aging, material plant native to both tropical and subtropical degradation, food deterioration, oxidative regions throughout the world with mallow- stress and many pathophysiological leaves commonly consumed as a leafy disorders such as arthritis, diabetes, vegetable11,12. The leaves are used in inflammation, neuro-degeneration and ethnomedical practices to treat ache and cancer2-4. pain, dysentery, malaria, enteritis, fever, Interestingly, antioxidants have been gonorrhea, pectoral pains and tumors13. The found to terminate or retard oxidative present study was aimed at evaluating process by scavenging free radicals and as certain antioxidative and biochemical protective agents in humans reduces cellular indices of the extract of Corchorus olitorius oxidative damage and thus retard the leaves via in vivo and in vitro experiments. progress of many chronic diseases as well as lipid peroxidation5. In addition, some MATERIALS AND METHODS antioxidants exert their effect by the levels of endogenous antioxidant defenses up Reagents regulating the expression of the genes Some of the reagents in this study encoding superoxide dismutase (SOD), includes; methanol, folin ciocalteu, gallic catalase, or glutathione peroxidase6. acid, quercetin, sodium carbonate, AJPCT[3][03][2015] 245-256 Adedosu et al________________________________________________ ISSN 2321 – 2748 thiobarbituric acid, trichloroacetic acid, 2- extracts were administered at 100mg/kg deoxyribose and 1, 1-dipheny-2- body weight for this group. picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), all of which were products of Sigma chemical company Collection of blood sample and preparation USA. of liver homogenate Rats were sacrificed by cervical Experimental animals dislocation. Blood was collected directly Twelve weeks old male wistar rats from the heart into plain and well-labelled weighing between 120-140g obtained from sample bottles and centrifuged at 4000rpm the animal house of Biochemistry for 5 minutes to obtain serum for analysis of Department were maintained on commercial biochemical parameters. The hepatic tissues feed for about two weeks before the were homogenized in KCl [10 mM] commencement of the experiment. The phosphate buffer (1.15%) with ethylene- animals were randomly divided into four diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA, pH 7.4) groups with six (6) animals per group in a and centrifuged at 12, 000 rpm for 60 battery cage and another set of four groups minutes. The supernatant was used to assay with six animals each for the first and for GSH and MDA concentrations. second in vivo study respectively. They were fed ad libitum and handled based on Phytochemical study the recommendations and guide lines of our Phenols and Flavonoids were institutional animal care and ethical measured spectrophotometrically using committee for laboratory animals. Folin Ciocalteu and Aluminium chloride assays by14,15, using gallic acid and Plants material and extract preparation quercetin as standards. The plants were collected from the teaching and research farm and Antioxidants activity authenticated by the botany unit. Fresh Radicals scavenging effects were healthy leaves of the plant were dried and determined using the methods of16,17 for the powdered while 10 grams of this was hydroxyl and DPPH radicals respectively. extracted in 100ml of methanol in the cold MDA levels and GSH determination were for 72 hours. carried out by the methods of18,19 while Inhibition of lipid peroxidation was Administration of test substances to animals determined by the method of20 with ascorbic 48 animals were divided randomly acid as standard. into two major groups with the first group made up of 24 rats divided into four groups Biochemical indices with 6 animals each and were treated with Protein and cholesterol concen- various doses (50, 100, 150 and 200mg/kg trations were determined by the procedure body weight) respectively for 21 days with of21,22. Enzyme assays, ALT, AST and γGT the extracts while the other groups were were determined using the method of23-25 made of 24 rats divided into four groups based on the standardized methods by the namely group A (control), B (sodium International Federation of Clinical arsenite intoxicated rats), C (sodium arsenite Chemistry. and extract) and D (extract only) respectively. Arsenite intoxication was carried out at 2.5 mg/kg body weight while AJPCT[3][03][2015] 245-256 Adedosu et al________________________________________________ ISSN 2321 – 2748 Statistical analysis free radicals intracellularly30,31 which in turn Statistical analysis were based on the induces oxidative damage to tissues, thus in Duncan`s experimental analysis with mean this study, sodium arsenate was used to standard deviation of sample analysed using induced hepatoxicity in the experimental the student T test and p< 0.05 i.e 95% level animals. Sodium arsenite intoxication of significance26. caused increase in serum protein, cholesterol, malondialdehyde level and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION