Free radicals are reactive molecules involved in many physiological processes and human diseases. As a result of which, much attention has been directed towards the studies regarding free radical scavenging activity or antioxidant activity of plants and plant extracts. The present study was undertaken to assess the antioxidant potential of fresh fruit juice of Averrhoa bilimbi in the paracetamol intoxicated Wistar albino rats. The rats were divided into five groups of six animals each comprising of Healthy Control, Disease Control (paracetamol challenged), Standard Drug treated (paracetamol and silymarin), Test extract treated (paracetamol and A. bilimbi) with Lower Dose (LD) (250 mg/kg b.wt) and Higher Dose (HD) 500 mg/kg b.wt). Blood and tissue samples were collected and biochemical investigations were carried out. The antioxidant parameters including Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione, Glutathione peroxidise (GPx) levels were evaluated. The study showed that A. bilimbi extract had increased the antioxidant activity significantly both in blood and tissues of animals and the efficacy of the extract was dose dependent. The phytochemical studies showed the presence of flavanoids, phenols, and glycosides in the extract. The antioxidant property of A. bilimbi may be the contribution of these phytoconstituents.
Author(s): Thamizhselvam N*, Liji IV, Sanjayakumar YR, Sanal Gopi CG, Vasantha Kumar KG, and Swamy GK