Oxidative Stress Status and Lipid Level of Rats Co-Administered with Lead Acetate and Aqueous Extract of Sweet Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Fruits

Lead is an environmental pollutant that causes damage to biological systems. The results of in vitro analysis of methanol and aqueous extract of Capsicum annuum L. (CA) fruits showed that the aqueous extract has higher antioxidant capacity than the methanol extract. The effect of this extract on lead induced oxidative stress, organ damage and derangement of lipid metabolism was investigated in thirty five wistar rats which were divided into seven groups with five rats in each group. The lead control group was given only 740mg/kg bw lead acetate while the normal control and extract control groups were given only feed and 500mg/kg bw extract, respectively. The other groups were co-administered with Lead and varying doses of the aqueous extract of CA fruits for a period of four weeks. It was observed that there was significant (*pless than 0.05) decrease in glutathione reductase, reduced glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase with corresponding increase in malondialdehyde concentration, alanine amino transaminase, aspartate transaminase and triglycerides in Lead control group compared to other groups. The deleterious effect of Lead was prevented either completely or to a significant degree by the aqueous extract of CA fruits.