JIST

Abstract

In this study we have assessed the protective effect of red grape extract against nicotine-induced oxidative damage. Pathogen free, Wistar strain, male albino rats were used in the study. Age-matched rats were divided into 4 groups of six in each group and treated as follows: i) Normal Control (NC) (Control rats that received 0.9% saline) ii) Nicotine treated (Nt) (0.6 mg/kg body weight by subcutaneous injection for a period of 2 months) iii) Nicotine treated + Red grape extract treated (Nt+RGEt-25) (nicotine at 0.6 mg/kg by subcutaneous injection and red grape extract at 25 mg/kg body

via orogastric tube for a period of 2 months) iv) Nicotine treated + Red grape extract treated (Nt+RGEt-50) (nicotine at 0.6 mg/kg by subcutaneous injection for a period of 2 months, red grape extract at 50 mg/kg via orogastric tube for a period of 2 months).

The animals were sacrificed after 24 hrs after the last treatment by cervical dislocation and the skeletal muscle fibres such as Gastrocnemius (GN) and Soleus (SOL) were isolated, and the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were estimated.

In nicotine treated-rats, the activities of ALP, ALT, AST and LDH were significantly increased in both muscles when compared to control rats. In the combination treatment groups (nicotine + red grape extract) upregulation was observed, red grape at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight being found to be more effective. The levels of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase(GPx), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase (CAT) were decreased in nicotine-treated rats in both muscles, and increase was observed in the combination groups (Nt+RGEt), red grape at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight being found to be more effective.

These results indicate that red grape extracts are beneficial, especially for nicotine-exposed subjects to improve the metabolic efficiency, and thereby improve the health status and life span.