Antioxidant Effects of Aqueous Extract of Sweet Potato and Ascorbic Acid on Paracetamol Induced Damage

The antioxidant effects of aqueous extract of sweet potato (Ipomoea batata) and ascorbic acid on paracetamol induced damage in liver and kidney were investigated in female rats by monitoring the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant profiles as well as lipid peroxidation and serum enzymes activities. The rats were given freshly prepared aqueous extract of sweet potato (100 mg kg-1 body weight) or ascorbic acid (100 mg kg-1 body weight) orally for 4 weeks. These rats were also given paracetamol (4 g kg-1 body weight) orally for 2 days at the last week of treatment. Another group of rats were either given extract (100 mg kg-1 body weight. daily, orally, for 4 weeks) or ascorbic acid (100 mg kg-1 body weight. daily, orally, for 4 weeks) or paracetamol (4 g kg-1 body weight for 2 days) or distilled water. The results show that the level of lipid peroxides in the liver and kidney and serum enzymes GOT and GPT activities were significantly decreased in extract and ascorbic acid pretreated rats when compared to control (p<0.05). Paracetamol however significantly increase the level of these parameters when compared to control. Liver and kidney Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Catalase activities significantly increase in extract and ascorbic acid pretreated rats compared to control. Paracetamol significantly reduced the activities of these enzymes in liver but the reduction in SOD activity was not significant in the kidney when compared to control. There were significant increase in reduced Glutathione (GSH) in both organs in ascorbic acid pretreated rat but the increase were not significant in extract pretreated rats. Paracetamol significantly decrease GSH level in the liver when compared to control. The study revealed that sweet potato extract and ascorbic acid have a potential to prevent oxidative damage induced by acute dose of paracetamol in both the liver and the kidney.