Effect of Gum Arabic on Liver Function And Antioxidant Enzymes of Sprague-Dawley Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of twelve weeks Gum Arabic dose on the liver functions and some antioxidant enzymes activity of 10 Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: 10 normal Sprague-Dawley rats were fed one liter 10% of gum Arabic solution daily for 12 weeks. As a control group another 10 rats were not fed with gum Arabic. On week twelve, blood samples were collected from each rat and all of them were killed and the liver was obtained. Some of the liver was homogenized and the supernatant was collected. The liver function tests (direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, albumin, total proteins, Asparate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase) were done using the blood samples and the supernatant of the homogenized liver was used to detect the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase and to measure the concentration of glutathione and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Results: the comparison of the mean values of the liver function tests showed the absence of significant variation between the liver function tests in the control and the gum Arabic fed rats. Concerning the antioxidant parameters, there was significant increase in the superoxide dismutase (p-value≤ 0.000), catalase (p-value= 0.043), glutathione (p-value= 0.004) and significant decrease in the MDA concentration (p-value≤ 0.000). Conclusion: Daily gum Arabic dose for twelve weeks significantly affected the liver antioxidant activity of Sprague-Dawley rats.