evaluation of the effect of date kernel (phoenix dactylifera) methanolic extract on the total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase enzyme of rat`s blood

background in a severe oxidative stress condition, balance of oxidant-anioxdiant system of the body breaks down, which is in order to produce more oxidants and, after that, important macromolecules such as dna undergo irreversible changes. there are reports indicating the therapeutic effects of the date. this study was aimed to evaluate the effect of date kernel`s on antioxidant capacity and the rate of glutathione peroxidase activity in the rat`s blood serums and erythrocytes after intraperitoneal administration. material and methods after collecting and identifying the date fruit, in this study, its kernel was crushed and extracted using maceration method by methanol. rats were randomly divided into 4group (6 rats),(control; 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) and injected intraperitoneally with the extracts for 15 days. sampling was carried out from the carotid artery. samples were divided into two parts of serum and erythrocyte.by kits, the antioxidant capacity and the rate of glutathione peroxidase activity in the samples of serum and erythrocytes were evaluated. results rates of antioxidant capacity of serum and erythrocyte in the concentration of 25, 50, and 100 were 23.40, 40.40, 54.34 and 124.35, 156.73, 198.29, respectively, and rates of glutathione peroxidase activity of serum and erythrocytes in the concentrations above were 0.87, 0.232, 0.306 and 0.116, 0.285, 0.653, respectively. conclusion rats which were injected by a more concentration of date kernel`s extract had more total antioxidant capacity and the rate of their glutathione peroxidase activity was more than the others indicating an appropriate effectiveness of the date kernel`s extract.