In Vitro Antioxidant Properties Of Telfairia Occidentalis Pod And The Effect Of The Extract On The Antioxidant Status Of Monosodium Glutamate- Intoxicated Male Wistar Rats.:- Iwuagwu Jude C

ABSTRACT xi Over the years, the consumption of MSG has been questioned as it has been implicated in metabolic abnormalities and in the induction of oxidative stress, many plants parts and products has been shown to possess free radical scavenging properties, thus improving effects of oxidative stress and complications involved in Monosodium glutamate-intoxication. This study determined the in vitro antioxidant properties of T. occidentalis and the effect of the extract on Monosodium Glutamate intoxicated rats. Twenty rats weighing about 100- 160grams were taken and divided into five(5) groups of four rats, group one served as negative control and were intoxicated with monosodium glutamate, group two served as positive control and were fed with Telfairia occidentalis pod extract only, group three was the normal group and fed with feed and water only, group four was administered monosodium glutamate and extract at a low dose (200mg/kg), group five were administered monosodium glutamate and extract at a high dose(400mg/kg). in vitro antioxidant assays of the pod extract revealed antioxidant potentials in the pod which were concentration dependent and low when compared to that of Ascorbic acid. Findings from the study also confirmed previous reports on- monosodium glutamate’s ability to induce oxidative stress following a significant (P<0.05) increased/decreased activities of scavenging enzymes (decreased catalase, increased glutathione peroxidase, decreased superoxide dismutase low glutathione concentration and high malondialdehyde (MDA) when compared to the normal gtroup. The effect of the extract on the induced oxidative stress was felt as it significantly (P<0.05) decreased malondialdehyde concentration at high doses when compared to the monosodium group, the extract also significantly (P<0.05) reduced glutathione peroxidase activity in a concentration dependent manner, and also significantly (P<0.05) increased the glutathione concentration. This result indicates that the extract attenuated oxidative stress in monosodium glutamate intoxicated rats and suggests that pod may be a potential source of antioxidants.