ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED ANTIOXIDANT PARAMETERS IN RABBIT BLOOD EXPOSED TO EPICATECHIN IN VIVO – FOUR WEEKS EXPOSURE

Abstract

The aim of present study was to analyse selected antioxidant parameters in blood of rabbits after epicatechin administration during four weeks. Animals (adult female rabbits, body weight 4 ± 0.5 kg) were divided into four groups: control group (C) and experimental groups (E1 – E3). Experimental groups received epicatechin in injectable form in doses 10 µg.kg-1 in E1, 100 µg.kg-1 in E2 and 1000 µg.kg-1 in E3 for four weeks three times a week. At the end of experiment the blood was collected, selected antioxidant parameters (catalase - CAT, glutathione peroxidase - GPx, superoxide dismutase - SOD, uric acid - UA, bilirubine and albumin) were analysed by Genesys 10 spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) using the commercial kits. The present study has shown that the activity of SOD and activity of CAT was lower in all experimental groups when compare with the control group after four week exposure of epicatechin but without significant differences. Activity of GPx was higher in all experimental groups against the control group but also without significant differences. The highest concentration of UA in rabbit serum was observed in E1 experimental group with the lowest concentration of epicatechin when compared with the other experimental groups and with the control group but without significant differences. Concentration of bilirubine in rabbit serum after administration of epicatechin was insignificantly lowest in all experimental groups in comparison with the control group. Content of albumin was not affected by epicatechin. Further research needs to be focused on the generation of data dealing with antioxidant effects, in both human and animals.