Antioxidant effects of aqueous fruit extract of Ziziphus jujuba on ethanol-induced oxidative stress in the liver and kidney of male rats

It is well known that pathogenesis of ethanol in liver and kidney is directly related to increase of free radicals and oxidative stress which lead to the structural and functional damage in these two vital organs. Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight identical groups and were treated as follows: control group (normal saline), the ethanol-fed group (4 g/kg body weight), 3 groups received three doses of Ziziphus jujuba fruit extract (50, 100, 200 mg/kg body weight) and 3 groups were fed with three doses of Ziziphus jujuba fruit extract plus ethanol (50, 100, 200 mg/kg plus 4 gr /kg body weight). All treatment were applied once daily by gastric gavage for 60 consecutive days. Samples of serum, liver and renal tissues were achieved for analysis of serum components, antioxidant enzymes, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) from rats. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) liver activities were decreased significantly in ethanol group compared to the control group. While, only glutathione peroxidase activity of liver increased significantly by administration of Z.jujuba fruit extract (200 mg/kg). The activity of kidney GPx, increased significantly in ethanol group compared to the control group. Also, kidney GPx activity decreased significantly in Z.jujuba fruit extract and ethanol group (200 mg/kg plus 4gr/kg) in comparison with the control group. In the present study, liver TBARS concentration, indicator of lipid peroxidation, increased significantly in ethanol group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Pretreatment by Z.jujuba fruit extract can protect liver and kidney against ethanol–induced oxidative stress.