ABSTRACT
Introduction: Several research studies have found that exposure to electromagnetic fields induces oxidative stress. Garcinia kola Heckel has been reported to have various ethnomedicinal uses including immuno modulatory property. Hence, this study evaluated the effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of Garcinia kola seed on serum antioxidant and lipid peroxidation status of adult Wistar rats exposed to oscillating magnetic field (OSMF).
Method: The ethyl acetate fraction of Garcinia kola seeds was obtained from the powdered plant material using a sohxlet apparatus and a fractionating funnel.Thirty adult Wistar rats divided into 5 groups of six each were treated with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the extract for the first three groups, the fourth group were given distilled water and the fifth geoup were given nothing after which all the rats except those of the fifth group were exposed to oscillating magnetic field for one hour. The treatment and exposure to OSMF were carried out concurrently for 28 days after which their serum antioxidant status (the levels of super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assayed. The Gas Chroatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) analysis of the phytoconstituents of the plant extract was also carried out.
Results: The results of the serum antioxidant status showed a dose dependent increase in the levels of SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH and a dose dependent decrease in the level of MDA. On the other hand, the chemical characterization of the ethyl acetate fraction of Garcinia kola by GCMS identified phytol acetate, 2-Hexadecanoic acid, geranyl 6-O-beta- d- xylopyranosyl- beta-D- glucopyranoside, 9,12- octadecadienoic acid, 6- octadecenoic acid, octadecenoic acid, 2,3- Benzocyclododecenedimethanol, 1,2,3,4,5, 9,17- octadecadienal as the major chemical constituents identified.
Conclusion: the results of this study demonstrates that the ethyl acetate fraction of Garcinia kola Heckel seeds is useful in the protection against oscillating magnetic field induced oxidative stress, a property which may be attributed to the phenolic compounds it contains.
