[Effects of green tea extract on experimentally induced toxicosis of carrageenan in male albino rats]

ABSTRACT

Green tea extract [GTE] is rich in polyphenolic compounds whose antioxidant activity is several fold higher than that of vitamins C and E. In the present study, the effect of GTE on the carrageenan toxicosis in male albino rats using intra-articular injection of 0.1 ml of carrageenan solution was investigated. Three groups of 10 rats each were used Control, Carrageenan alone, and carrageenan plus GTE. After one week of treatment, the plasma levels of lipid -peroxides and nitric oxide as well as total thiol were measured. The histopathological examination of the liver, spleen and kidneys of the three groups were performed .Animals treated with carrageenan alone showed significant increase value in the levels of both lipid peroxides and nitric oxide in comparison to the control group. In rats that received GTE, the changes in plasma levels of lipid peroxides and nitric oxide were not statistically present from the control group, while the total thiol levels in the GTE group were significantly increased [p<0.05] in comparison with carrageenan only and control groups