Nutritional and Anti-oxidative Potentials of Ethanolic Extract of Avocado Pulp (Persea americana Mill) On Caffeine Induced Oxidative Stress on Wistar Rats
Nkwocha, John Nnaemeka *
Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Philip Oseikhuenmhen Ogboye
Department of Biological Sciences, Wellspring University, Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study evaluated the chemical composition and the effect of ethanolic extract of Persea americana pulp on caffeine induced oxidative stress on male wistar rats. Forty-five (45) mature male rats were used and divided into five (5) groups of nine (9) rats per group. Group two (2) to group five (5) were induced with 200mg/kg caffeine for two weeks. Three rats were sacrificed from each group after two weeks of induction and blood collected to check for caffeine toxicity. The rats were treated as follows for another four weeks, Group 1: Normal control(feed and water only)., Group 2:positive control (caffeine only), Group 3: 100mg/kg extract, Group 4: 300mg/kg extract, Group 5: 500mg/kg extract. The rats were slaughtered twice after treatment with avocado pulp extract: three rats from each group after two weeks of treatment with the avocado pulp extract and then three rats from each group after four weeks of treatment with avocado pulp extract to check the effect of the extract on caffeine induced toxicity on duration and dose dependent basis . Blood was collected for oxidative stress markers assay. Oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reduced and malondi- aldehyde) were comparable to the negative control and positive control group. From the findings of this study, it can be concluded that oral administration of ethanolic pulp extract of Persea americana has a dose ameliorating effect on caffeine induced oxidative stress damage on male rats.
Keywords: Persea americana, caffeine, peroxidase, glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase