Protective effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Tamarindus indica L. leaf on oxidative stress induced by sodium fluoride in different tissues of rat

The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation has been considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic fluoride toxicity. In the present study, the protective effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of tamarind leaf on fluoride induced oxidative stress in liver, kidney, heart and blood were studied. A total number of 36 female healthy albino rats were divided into six groups, each containing six animals. The control group (Gr-I) received normal drinking water and standard diet throughout the study period. The second group (Gr-II) received only 200 μg/ml (ppm) of sodium fluoride (NaF) in their drinking water for 60 days of study period. The third and fourth groups (Gr-III and Gr-IV) were co-administered with 200 ppm of NaF and low (200 mg /kg bwt) and high (300 mg/kg bwt) doses of ethanolic extract of tamarind leaf, respectively. While the fifth and sixth groups (Gr-V and Gr-VI) were similarly co-administered with 200 ppm of NaF in drinking water and low (200 mg /kg bwt) and high (300 mg/kg bwt) doses of aqueous extract of tamarind leaf, respectively for 60 days. Blood was collected at day 0, 30 and 60 of the study period. Liver, kidney and heart were obtained by sacrificing the rats for estimation of antioxidant parameters like super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, GSH (reduced glutathione) and (LP) lipid peroxidation. Gr-II showed significant reduction in the activity of catalase, SOD and GSH and significant increase in lipid peroxidation level of liver and kidney when compared with control group. In erythrocyte also, catalase, SOD, and GSH activity declined significantly and lipid peroxidation level increased at day 60 of experiment when compared with day 0. Heart tissue did not show any significant alteration in enzymatic activity. Among the leaf extracts at two different dose levels, aqueous extract at high dose (300 mg/kg bwt) showed better effect in protection of oxidative stress in liver, kidney, heart and erythrocytes of rat because status of oxidative stress which was almost negligible similar to the control group.