Protective effect of Crataeva nurvala bark against MNU and testosterone induced oxidative stress in liver of male albino rats

Androgens are the key factors in either the initiation or progression of prostate cancer (PCA) by inducing oxidative stress. In the present set of investigations, the antioxidative potential of Crataeva nurvala bark extract against androgen mediated oxidative stress in male wistar rats has been studied. Oxidative stress was induced in rats liver by the injection of testosterone (100 mg/kg bw) for three days followed by injection of chemical carcinogen N-Methyl N-Nitroso Urea (MNU) (50 mg/kg bw) for one week. The oxidative stress induced rats were treated with the ethanolic extract of C. nurvala bark (150 mg/kg bw) and testosterone injection (2 mg/kg bw) was also continued throughout the experimental period of 4 months. The liver tissue was dissected out for biochemical analysis of protein, lipid peroxidation (LPO), the enzymic-antioxidants viz. catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidise (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR), and the non-enzymic antioxidants viz. reduced glutathione (GSH), and ascorbic acid. The results revealed that the testosterone administration induced the oxidative stress in the liver of rats and the ethanolic extract of C. nurvala bark (150 mg/kg bw) supplemented groups showed a significant protective effect. Hence, the study reveals that the constituents present in C. nurvala bark impart protection against androgen induced oxidative injury that may result in the development of liver damage.