Table 2

Effect of CsA and sulphated polysaccharides on the antioxidant defense system in the hepatic tissues

Antioxidants
Group I (Control)
Group II (CsA)
Group III (Sulphated polysaccharides)
Group IV (CsA + sulphated polysaccharides)

Enzymic antioxidants
SOD
8.73 ± 0.96
6.52 ± 0.79 a***
8.75 ± 0.87
8.54 ± 0.94 b***
CAT
342.67 ± 41.40
260.50 ± 28.63 a***
341.92 ± 41.31
329.84 ± 32.65 b**
GPx
18.76 ± 1.86
12.38 ± 1.63 a***
19.01 ± 2.09
18.12 ± 1.79b***
Non-enzymic antioxidants
GSH
16.89 ± 1.86
12.53 ± 1.24 a***
16.82 ± 2.00
16.47 ± 1.81 b***
Vitamin C
1.92 ± 0.21
1.26 ± 0.15 a***
1.96 ± 0.19
1.67 ± 0.20 a*b**
Vitamin E
0.84 ± 0.08
0.56 ± 0.07 a***
0.89 ± 0.09
0.79 ± 0.08 b***

Values are expressed as mean ± S.D. for six animals in each group.

Units of enzyme activity: SOD: Units/mg protein, one unit is equal to the amount of enzyme that inhibits the auto-oxidation reaction by 50%; CAT: μmoles of H2O2 consumed/min/mg protein; GPx: μg of reduced GSH consumed/min/mg protein; GSH, vitamin C and vitamin E: μg/mg protein.

Comparisons are made between: a-Group I and Groups II, III, IV; b-Group II and Group IV. The symbols (***), (**) and (*) represent statistical significance at P < 0.001, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively.

Josephine et al. BMC Pharmacology 2008 8:4   doi:10.1186/1471-2210-8-4