Antioxidant activity of <i>Carica Papaya</i> juice in diabetic rats

Abstract

Diabetes the Killer disease known worldwide has been implicated to generate oxidative stress and Carica papaya has been suggested to manage this effect. This study was therefore aimed at evaluating the antioxidant activity of C. papaya juice in diabetic rats with a view of proposing a management scheme. Adult male Wister rats (n = 8) were divided into three groups: Two experimental groups; group 1(diabetic treated with C. papaya juice), group 2 (diabetic untreated) and control (group 3). Animals were sacrificed 14 days after treatment with C. papaya juice. The blood glucose, total protein, total cholesterol, vitamin C and MDA concentrations were estimated. The results showed that the blood glucose concentration significantly increased (p<0.05) in group 1 (diabetic treated with C. papaya juice) compared to group 2 and 3. The total protein, total cholesterol and vitamin C concentrations were highest in the control group compared to the experimental groups (1 and 2). Group 1 showed significant increase (p<0.05) in the total protein, total cholesterol and vitamin C  concentrations compared to group 2 (diabetic untreated). Group 1 (diabetic and treated with C. papaya juice had the highest MDA concentration compared to groups 2 and 3). The present study suggests that C. papaya juice has antioxidant activity that could be beneficial in the management of diabetes. However, C. papaya intake must be rationed since its consumption increases blood glucose concentration and invariably lipid peroxidation.

Keywords: Antioxidant, Carica papaya, Diabetes, Lipid peroxidation, Oxidative stress