Sequential changes of serum and liver Subcellular oxidants and antoxidant concentrations in silymarin treated male rats

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the role of silymarin as an antioxidant and/or it activity in induction of theendogenous antioxidants in intact adult male rats. Seventy males were randomly devided into control and silymarin treatedgroups (35 each), and were drenched with drinking water and silymarin suspension (200 mg/ kg b.w) daily for 40 days. Eachgroup was allocated to 5 equal subgroups; sacrificed before treatment (0 day), and after 10, 20, 30, and 40 days of treatment.At the end of each period, males were anaesthesized, dissected and blood samples were obtained for assessment of MDA,SOD, CAT and GSH concentrations. liver samples (1 g) have been removed and homogenized for assessment of liversubcellular MDA, SOD, CAT and GSH concentrations. At the end of each periods, serum and liver subcellular MADconcentrations showed no significant changes between groups, whereas SOD, CAT, and GSH concentrations significantlyincreased at 10, 20, 30, and 40 day periods in silymarin treated males compared with control. It can be concluded thatsilymarin antioxidant activity is of pharmacological value not only as an antioxidant by itself but also as an inducer ofendogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants even in normal intact male.