Evaluation of toxic effect of oral co-administration of crude oil and vitamin C on antioxidant system of albino rats

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of co-administration of crude oil and vitamin C on some antioxidant biomarkers of rats’ cellular system. Rats were grouped into four ( A, B, C, D) and treated orally with normal saline, 400 mg/kg bw vitamin C, 0.1 ml crude oil + 400 mg/kg bw vitamin C and 0.1ml crude oil respectively. Enzymic antioxidant assayed for in the kidney, liver, stomach and serum of rats are catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), along with concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Kidney GSH of rats treated with normal saline is about 2 folds that of rats treated with 0.1 ml crude oil, kidney GSH of rats treated with 400mg/kg bw vitamin C is about 3 folds that of rats treated with 0.1 ml crude oil whereas the GSH of kidney of rats treated with both 400mg/kg bw vitamin C and 0.1 ml crude oil is about 2 folds that of rats treated with only 0.1 ml crude oil. Activities of SOD of tissues of rats treated with normal saline and those treated with 400mg/kg bw. Vitamin C are about 2 folds that of rats treated with 0.1 ml crude oil. CAT activities of tissues of rats treated with 0.1 ml crude oil are significantly lower relative to the rats treated with normal saline (P<0.05). MDA concentration of tissues of rats treated with 0.1 ml crude oil is significantly higher (p<0.05) relative to the rats treated with normal saline, 400 mg/kg bw. Vitamin C and 400 mg/kg bw. Vitamin C + 0.1 ml crude oil (A, B and C). MDA concentrations of kidney, liver and stomach of rats treated with 0.1 ml crude oil is significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of rats treated with both 400 gm/kg bw. Vitamin C and 0.1 ml crude oil. Particularly, serum MDA of rats treated with 0.1 ml crude oil about 2 folds that of rats treated with 400 mg/kg bw vitamin C + 0.1 ml crude oil. The present study generated data that suggest crude oil as the cause of oxidative stress in tissues of rats through a mechanism that depletes both enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants while increasing the level of malondialdehyde.