Cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress in brain: Protective effect of Garcinia indica fruit extract

This study sought to characterize the distribution of phenols and antioxidant activities in Garcinia Indica fruit extract and their inhibition of cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress in rat’s brain. The total Phenol content and antioxidant activities of Garcinia Indica fruit extract were determined in vitro and in vivo. The Results of the study revealed that intraperitoneal administration of cyclophosphamide (75mg/kg of body weight) caused a Significant increase (P<0.05) in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the brain; however, there was a significant Decrease (P<0.05) in the brain MDA content, in those of rats treated with Garcinia Indica fruit extract showed a higher Inhibitory effect. In addition, treatment of the Garcinia Indica fruit extract also caused a dose-dependent inhibition of Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin; likewise, treatment of the Garcinia Indica fruit extract inhibited MDA production. The higher Inhibition of oxidative stress in brain and serum enzymes and metabolites by the Garcinia Indica fruit extract could be attributed to its significantly higher (P<0.05) total phenol content, reducing power and free-radical scavenging ability. Therefore, treatment of Garcinia Indica fruit extract could prevent cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress in brain; although the Garcinia Indica fruit extract is a better protectant. Key-Words: Garcinia Indica, Phenol, DPPH, Antioxidant, Cyclophosphamide, Brain. Introduction Oxidative stress is created when excessive free radicals react with proteins, cell walls and DNA, causing damage to cell structures and thereby leading to degenerative diseases. The brain and nervous system are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress due to limited antioxidant Capacity (Shulman et al., 2004). The brain makes up about 2% of a person’s mass but consumes 20% of their metabolic oxygen. The vast majority of this energy is used by the neurons (Shulman et al., 2004). Some brain cells, like neurons, cannot make glutathione, but instead rely on surrounding astrocyte cells to provide useable glutathione precursors, because the brain has limited access to the bulk of antioxidants produced by the body, neurons are the first cells to be affected by a shortage of antioxidants, and are most susceptible to oxidative stress (Perry et al., 2004). * Corresponding Author: E-mail: [email protected] The most likely and practical way to fight against degenerative diseases is to improve body antioxidant status, which could be achieved by higher consumption of food rich in antioxidant phytochemicals. Foods from plant origin usually contain natural antioxidants that can scavenge free radical. The human body is equipped with an antioxidant defense system that deactivates these highly reactive free radicals. This includes antioxidants enzymes (made in the body) and antioxidant phytochemicals that soak up the excess reactivity that these free radicals have, turning them to harmless particles or waste products that can be get rid of (Doblado et al., 2005; Oboh and Akindahunsi, 2004; Oboh, 2006a, b). Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an alkylating agent and the most commonly used anticancer and immunosuppressant drug. It is used for the treatment of chronic and acute leukemia’s, multiple myeloma, lymphomas and rheumatic arthritis and in the preparation for bone marrow transplantation (Dollery, 1999). The important factor for the therapeutic and the toxic effects of cyclophosphamide is the requirement of metabolic activation by the Research Article [Singh et al., 2(9): Sep., 2011]