The antioxidant activity within the body has been well correlated with the body’s defense mechanism against toxic free radicals. Alcohol ingestion increases the generation of free radicals. The present study was conducted to assess antioxidant potential of seed extract of Ziziphus mauritiana, which was standardized with HPLC. DPPH assay and Fenton reaction system was applied to assess free radical scavenging potential. The Swiss albino mice were used to evaluate the inhibitory activity of extract on oxidative stress induced by alcohol. The animals were treated with graded doses of extract (100-400 mg/kg body weight) before the administration of alcohol. After 6 weeks animals were sacrificed and their livers were assessed for catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione and lipid peroxidation. The results indicated that the extract of Ziziphus mauritiana potentially scavenged the free radicals in a concentration-dependent manner. The pretreatment of animals with Ziziphus mauritiana extract inhibited lipid peroxidation significantly, and increased the levels of reduced glutathione, catalase activity and superoxide dismutase in all extract treated groups (p<0.05) as compared to alcohol treated groups. The plant provides protection against the induction of oxidative stress by alcohol either by converting free radicals into stable products or by strengthening the antioxidant system.
©2011 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
