ARI Volume 2 Number 1.pdf - Zoo-unn.org

OGUGUA Victor Nwadiogbu and IKEJIAKU Chukwuemeka Afam228proportional to the level of peroxidation. VitaminC level was determined by the method of Tietz(1970). This involves the oxidation of ascorbicacid (vitamin C) in the presence of combinedcolour reagent. The hydrozone resulting from thisprocedure dissolves in strong sulfuric acid solutionto produce a red complex which absorbs at 500nm. Glucose level was estimated according to 0-Toluidine method of Cooper & McDaniel (1970) inwhich the glucose in the sample when heated withO-Toluidine regent gives a blue-green colouration,the intensity of which is proportional to glucoseconcentration.The results were analysed using analysisof variance (ANOVA) and expressed as mean ± SD.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONTable 1 shows that glucose level increased indiabetic condition (DNT group 2) compared withboth the normal rabbits (group 1) and rabbitssupplemented with palm oil. It was observed thatpalm oil slightly decreased glucose level in group 3(DT).That glucose levels increase in diabeticcondition has been variously reported (Hamme, etal., 1991; Takuncu, et al., 1998; Sharpe, et al.,1998). Also, increase in glucose level has recentlybeen associated with oxidative stress (Atkinsonand Maclaren, 1990; Yadar, et al., 1997; Ogugua2000). Thus, the increased glucose level in group2 (diabetic not treated group) is a result of intrinsicoxidative stress in diabetic condition. The slightreduction in the glucose level which was notsignificantly different (P > 0.05) is a n indicationthat palm oil contains antioxidant which possiblycountered oxidative stress in the animals. Earlierreports (Atroshi, et al., 1992; Choo, et al., 1992)show that palm oil contains other antioxidantvitamins – A and B carotene besides high level ofvitamin E and, these might have actedsynergistically, to reduce blood glucose. Thisobservation lay credence to the report of Chung etal (1992) that these nutrients played protectiveroles against oxidative stress in alloxan induceddiabetic rats. The very slight increase in glucoselevel in the normal group as experimentprogressed could be due to increased oxidativestress resulting possibly from repetitive bleeding.These inferences corroborate a stipulation by Reyand Besedovsky (1989) that repetitive bleedingincreases oxidative stress and glucose level.Malondialdehyde (MDA) level increased indiabetic rabbits (group 2) compared with thenormal. This increase is significant (P < 0.05).Diabetic condition has been linked with oxidativestress (Elhadd, et al., 1999), and increased lipidperoxidation product (Ogugua, 2000), expressedas malondiadehyde level (MDA). Thus, the highlevel of MDA in group 2 – diabetic not treatedrabbits – could be explained on the basis ofoxidative stress mediated lipid peroxidation whilethe reduction in the level in group 3 (diabeticsupplemented group) could be a result of theantioxidant property of palm oil. This property isconferred to palm oil by its possession of high levelof a-tocopherol and other antioxidant vitamin(Packer, 1992; Atroshi, et al., 1992).Table 1: Effect of red palm oil on bloodglucose, lipid peroxidation and vitamin Clevels during the experimentGroup Glucose level mmol/L1 8.10 ± 0.306.40 ± 0.40 a ,7.66 ± 0.46 b231231213.68 ± 0.48*6.48 ± 0.28 a , 12.50 ± 0.35 b12.56 ± 0.36*6.65 ± 0.52 a , 14.20 ± 0.60 bLipid peroxidation levelmmol/ml plasma7.90 ± 0.2213.73 ± 0.41**9.95 ± 0.20**Vitamin C level mg/100m0.83 ± 0.180.62 ± 0.11**3 0.69 ± 0.13**Group 1 is the normal rabbits (non diabetic), Group 2 isdiabetic rabbits not supplemented with palm oil, Group 3 isthe diabetic rabbits supplemented with palm oil, a indicatesbasal blood glucose level b indicates blood glucose beforetreatment, *p> 0.05, **p