A fermented sorghum/millet-based beverage, Obiolor, extenuates high-fat diet-induced dyslipidaemia and redox imbalance in the livers of rats.

BACKGROUND: Obiolor, a non-alcoholic beverage produced from fermented sorghum and millet malts, is widely consumed on a daily basis by the Igala tribe in Nigeria and is closely associated with good health. The effect of Obiolor on dyslipidaemia, protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation in the liver of rats fed a high-fat diet was investigated. RESULTS: High-fat diet-mediated alterations in liver and serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly (P < 0.05) reversed by Obiolor. The beverage increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the liver of rats. These increases significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated the high-fat diet-mediated decrease in antioxidant enzymes. High-fat diet-mediated elevations in the levels of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and DNA fragmentation in the livers of rats were lowered by the beverage. CONCLUSION: This study showed that Obiolor extenuated high-fat diet-mediated dyslipidaemia, protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation in rats.

Sorghum-based alcoholic beverage, Burukutu, perturbs the redox status of the liver of male rats.

The redox status of male rat liver following 28 days consumption of Burukutu was investigated. Twenty rats were randomized into four groups with five rats each. Burukutu consumption at 0.78 g/kg alcohol produced no significant change in the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). However, 3.71 and 7.43 g/kg dosages resulted in significant decrease in the activities of ALP, ALT and AST with corresponding increase in serum. The activity of cytochrome P450(CYP 2E1) increased significantly in the liver of rats following consumption of Burukutu at all doses investigated. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in rats treat with 0.78 g/kg, 3.41 and 7.43 g/kg Burukutu. There was a significant increase in the level of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) with reduction in the levels of glutathione reduced (GSH) and GSH:GSSG. The levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, protein carbonyl and percentage DNA fragmentation, increased significantly (P < 0.05). It is evident from the alterations in the activities of the hepatocellular enzymes, antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress biomarkers that Burukutu mediated its toxicity through the depletion of the antioxidant enzymes.