G-6PDH, GPx activities and TBARS level in the stomach of adult male Wistar rats following the administration of ethanol and ethanolic extracts of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves

Abstract

The present investigation studied the effects of ethanolic extracts of neem on the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the level of thiobarbituric acid test (TBARS), in the stomach, following ethanol-induced lesion in Wistar rats. 24 adult male Wistar rats used in the study were divided into 3 groups; Group A (n=8) received oral phosphate buffered saline and served as control; group B (n=8) received 1.0ml of 50% ethanol orally every 12 hours and group C (n=8) received Neem extract (500 mg/kg) orally and 12 hours later 1.0 ml of 50% ethanol. The experiment lasted for 21 consecutive days, after which the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the stomach excised. Their stomach was assayed spectrophotometrically for the activities of G-6PDH and GPx and level of TBARS. There was significant (p =0.05) change in G-6-PDH and GPx activities and TBARS level, in the control, ethanol and ethanol and neem administered groups. The results indicate that extracts of neem which is widely consumed for a variety of ailments alters carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant mechanisms in the stomach tissue.