In Vivo Antioxidant Activity of Different Fractions of Indigofera Barberi Against Paracetamol-induced Toxicity in Rats

Objectives: To evaluate the in vivo antioxidant activity of chloroform extract fractions of Indigofera barberi (whole plant) against paracetamolinduced toxicity in rats.

Materials and methods: For 7 days, rats were treated with different chloroform extract fractions and toxicity was induced with a single dose of paracetamol by intraperitoneal injection. The group of animals pretreated with 100 mg/kg p.o of fraction D of Indigofera barberi improved significantly in terms of hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and peroxidase activities, and glutathione levels compared to the control group.

Results: The hepatic SOD, catalase, peroxidase activities, and glutathione levels in the animal groups treated with paracetamol were 33.6±0.09 μ/mg protein, 5.5±0.23 μ/mg protein, 0.131±0.15 μ/mL, and 46.1±5.81 μM, respectively. Hepatic SOD, catalase, peroxidase, and glutathione in the fraction D treated group were 61.8±0.07 μ/mg protein, 10.6±0.16 μ/mg protein, 0.913±0.23 μ/mL, and 87.6±1.4 micro molar, respectively. Therefore, the present study revealed that fraction D of Indigofera barberi has significant in vivo antioxidant activity and can be used to protect tissue from oxidative stress.

Conclusion: From the results, fraction D of Indigofera barberi at a dose of 100 mg/kg, p.o., improved the SOD, catalase and peroxidase activities, and glutathione levels significantly. Based on this study, we can conclude that fraction D of Indigofera barberi possesses in vivo antioxidant activity and can be employed in protecting tissue from oxidative stress.

Keywords: Indigofera barberi; paracetamol; radical scavenging; silymarin.