Protective and curative effects of the 15 KD isolated protein from the Peganum harmala L. seeds against carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress in brain, tests and erythrocytes of rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The present study aimed to evaluate the protective and curative effects of the 15 KD protein isolated from the seeds of Peganum harmala L. against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced oxidative stress in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the protective study, animals were pretreated intraperitoneally with 15 KD isolated protein at doses of 4 and 8 mg/kg body weight as well as vitamin C (250 mg/kg body weight p.o) for 7 days and then challenged with CCl4 orally (1 ml/kg body weight) in olive oil (50%) for 2 days. In the curative study, rats were administered CCl4 orally for 2 days, then treated intraperitoneally with 15 KD protein (4 and 8 mg/kg body weight) and orally with vitamin C. RESULTS Administration of CCl4 induced induction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels as well as glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity in brain, testes and erythrocytes. The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in brain was also inhibited by CCl4 administration. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of rats either pre or post CCl4 intoxication successfully alleviated the oxidative stress in the brain, testes and erythrocytes of the experimental animals. Data also showed that the isolated protein possessed strong antioxidant activity comparable to that of vitamin C.