ALLEVIATING POTENTIALS OF TOMATO EXTRACT AGAINST SODIUM ARSENITE INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN THYROID OF ALBINO RATS

Arsenic poisoning is a global health problem and its exposure can alter the oxidants/antioxidants balance by increasing oxidative toxic stress (OTS). The present study has been undertaken to access the antioxidant potential of tomato extract against sodium arsenite induced oxidative stress in thyroid gland of albino rats. In this study, rats were divided into four groups and five rats were kept in each group. Group I rats were kept as control. Group II rats were administered a single dose of sodium arsenite only. Group III rats were kept as positive control and given only tomato extract. Group IV was administered sodium arsenite + tomato extract. The results showed that after arsenic intoxification level of the lipid peroxidation marker i.e. MDA increased and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GPx) decreased. Tomato extract (TE) supplementation reduced MDA level, alleviated the level of antioxidants and suppressed the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS).