The effects of olive oil on antioxidant enzyme activities in some tissues of rats

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to elucidate the effects of olive oil on antioxidant enzyme activities: superoxide dismutases (SODs): total (Tot SOD), copper zinc containing (CuZn SOD) and manganese containing (Mn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) in liver, kidneys, heart and testes of male, two months old Wistar albino rats. The animals were divided in two experimental groups: (1) control animals {C) and (2) animals treated with olive oil (o. oil, 100 mL of virgin olive oil, i.m., every fifth day during 30 days). All animals were decapitated at the end of treatment always between 8 and 10 a.m. to avoid any possible rhythmic variations in the antioxidant level. Both experimental groups consisted of seven rats. The obtained results were compared in'respectto the control animals.

Our results show that olive oil induced a significant decrease of Tot SOD activity in liver, kidneys and heart of rats, while in testes Tot SOD activity was significantly increased. At the same time, CuZn SOD activity was significantly increased in kidneys and heart, whereas in testes was significantly decreased. Contrary, Mn SOD activity was significantly decreased in kidneys, heart and testes of animals treated with olive oil. The activity of CAT was markedly decreased in liver, kidneys and heart of animals treated with olive oil, while in testes CAT activity was significantly increased. GSH-Px activity was significantly decreased in liver, kidneys and heart, whereas in testes the changes was not observed. The activity of GR was significantly increased only in the liver of animals treated with olive oil.

The obtained results show that olive oil influenced antioxidant enzyme activities in all examined tissues of rats. At the same time various tissues exhibit different response to olive oil, depending of their metabolic activity.