Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidative Effects of Flavonoids-rich Extract of Cymbopogon citratus in Sodium Nitrite (NaNO2) Induced Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats

Aims: Environmental exposure to radical generating agents from foods, drugs and cosmetics is a major concern in diseases associated with oxidative stress using natural products. This study investigated the effects of flavonoids-rich extracts of Cymbopogon citratus on oxidative and inflammatory markers in sodium nitrite exposed rats.

Study Design: Twenty four male Wistar rats averagely weighing 175 g used for this study were treated for one week, randomly selected into four groups, A-D. Group A (Control), Group B (Sodium nitrite only, 80 mg/kg.bw), Group C (treated extract at 100 mg/kg.bw. and intoxicated with sodium nitrite, 80 mg/kg.bw) and Group D (extract only, 100 mg/kg.bw).

Methodology: Serum and liver total protein (TP) concentrations, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, Catalase (CAT) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, White blood cell count (WBC), C-Reactive protein (CRP) and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α),were determined using international standardized methods.

Results: Results showed that Sodium nitrite significantly (P = .05) decreases liver total protein concentrations, GSH levels, CAT and SOD activities with corresponding significant (P=.05) increases in serum total proteins, WBC count, TNF-α, CRP and MDA levels. However, extract alone (group D) elicited significant (P=.05) increases in serum protein, WBC count, GSH level, CAT and SOD activities and significant decreases in serum TP,TNF-α, CRP, and MDA levels. Interestingly, the combined treatment (group C) showed similar trends with extracts as the parameters were significantly reversed to their control levels compared with group A and B.

Conclusion: Results are indicative of the toxic effects of sodium nitrite, its potential to induced apoptosis by up regulation of TNF-α and extract ability to boost anti-oxidant status, elicits modulatory, anti–inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects suggestive of its rich-flavonoids and medicinal values in preventing diseases associated with environmental toxins.