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. Therefore, moderate consumption of vegetable extracts can modulate antioxidant activity.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The process of obtaining food substance for generation of energy for body’s use is known as nutrition. When healthy diets are consumed consistently, a whole lot of health issues can be prevented. On the other hand, consumption of diets that does not contain the right amount of nutrients, either under or over nutrients is known as malnutrition (Fourman and Morgan, 1992). Human beings rely on plants for food, drinks, shelter, clothing, equipment and medicines for survival. Large varieties of plants are consumed by man and are used in producing drugs and chemicals like cosmetics, pesticides, antiseptics and so on (Hutchinson and Dalziel, 1993). Vegetables are generally succulent parts of plants grown in gardens and consumed as a side dish with starchy staples (Guarino, 1995). Several vegetable species abound in the world. Green leafy vegetables constitute an indispensable constituent of human diet in Africa generally and West Africa in particular (Chima and Igyor, 2007). Vegetables are important protective food and highly beneficial for the maintenance of health and prevention of diseases. They contain valuable food ingredients which can be utilized to build up and repair the body. The use of plant extracts as an alternative form of medicinal treatment to orthodox medicine is enjoying great popularity since the late 1990s. In the South West Nigeria, bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), and pumpkin leaf (Telfairia occidentalis) are among the widely consumed vegetables and are also used in different medicinal applications (Burton and Ingold, 1994). Vegetable plants are being used as valuable sources of food and medicine for the prevention of illness and maintenance of human health. In Nigeria, many indigenous plants are widely consumed as food or home remedies especially in the treatment or management of common diseases (Geerlings 2001). The consumption of vegetable plant which contains active ingredients that can be used for therapeutic purposes or which contain foundation compounds that can be used for the synthesis of useful drugs is very useful to the body organs (Sofowora, 1993). Previous studies have shown that consumption of vegetables rich in antioxidant nutrients reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (Thorogood et al., 1994; Key et al., 1996).
Aims of Study
The aim of this study is out to investigate the effect of the processing methods (Juice and Shaft) on oxidative stress induced by high sucrose diet. The objectives of the study are to:
· Investigate the activities of Malondiadehyde (MDA)
· Investigate the activities of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD),
· Investigate the activities of Catalase, and to
· Compare the activities of both Juice and Shaft processing methods, in the Plasma, Brain and Liver.