Protective Effects of Water Extract from the Fruit of the Doum Palm, Hyphaene Thebaica on Lead Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

Forty five male albino Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups, group 1 (control), group 2 orally exposed to 1% lead (as lead acetate) in drinking water and group 3 was fed on basal diet + 1% lead acetate as drinking water containing 50mg dry Doum fruit extract. The experiment continued for 5 weeks to study the antioxidant enzymes of the erythrocyte, lipid peroxides level, total thiol groups and total antioxidant status in plasma. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experimental period and ten per cent erythrocyte hemoly- sate was prepared and analyzed for glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), total thiol groups and lipid peroxides. Total antioxidant status (TAS) was determined in plasma. In lead exposed group there was a significant (p 0.05) increase in erythrocytic GPx, SOD, CAT. A significant (p 0.05) decrease in total thiol groups and TAS and a significant increase in serum lead concentration. While treatment with Doum fruit extract decreased significantly (p 0.05) the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, serum lead concentrations and increased significantly (p 0.05) the levels of the total thiol groups and TAS. The results obtained indicate a possible role of free radicals in lead poisoning pathogenicity and that Doum fruit extract have antioxidative and free radical scavenging activity.