ABSTRACT

This study was aimed at investigating the effect of vegetable extract (Juice and pulp) on oxidative stress induced by high sucrose diets on specific antioxidants such as (Catalase, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Malondiadehyde (MDA) in the liver, brain and plasma. 60 albino wistar strain rats were used, The rats were shared into two groups, one part fed with high sucrose diet while others were fed with normal rat chow. Antioxidant status were analysed in the brain, plasma and heart after four weeks of feeding. The result shows the imbalance caused by high sucrose diets having an effect on the antioxidants as the levels of superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde and catalase in the liver, brain and plasma were significantly reduced (p<0.05). Therefore, moderate consumption of vegetable extracts can modulate antioxidant activity.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     Introduction

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     Free radicals and antioxidants in human health

2.1     Oxidative stress

2.2     Vegetables

2.2.1  Vernonia amygdalina (Efo ewuro)

2.2.2  Telferia occidentalis (Ugwu)

2.3     Antioxidants

2.3.1  Catalase

2.3.2  Superoxide dismutase

2.3.3  Malondiadehyde

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     Materials and Methods

3.1     Apparatus and Equipments

3.2     Chemical reagents

3.3     Collection and extraction of plant materials

3.3.1  Telferia occidentalis      

3.3.2  Vernonia amygdalina

3.4     Methods

3.4.1  Diet composition

3.4.2  Feeding and grouping of animals

3.4.3  Animal Sacrifice

3.5     Organ Homogenization

3.6     Biochemical analysis

3.7     Statistical Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR                                                                

4.0     Results

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0     Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1     Discussion

5.2     Conclusion

5.3     Recommendation

          References

Appendix