Purpose: To examine the effect of
Sempervivum tectorum
aqueous extract, as infusion, on some
biomarkers of oxidative stress induced by aluminium exposure in Wistar albino rat.
Methods: The rats were randomly divided into five groups and treated daily for 3 months as follows:
control received tap water; the 2
nd group was given 1 mg/L aluminium as aluminium sulphate (AS) in
drinking water daily; group 3, a combination of 1 mg/L AS and
Sempervivum tectorum extract daily; the
fourth group,
Sempervivum tectorum extract daily; and fifth group 1 mg/L AS for three months and
thereafter
Sempervivum tectorum extract for one month.
Results: Aluminium (Al) exposure increased, compared to control group, the level of blood Al (293.64
%, p < 0.0001), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD, 14.84 %, p > 0.05), glutathione peroxidase (G-Px,
31.25 %, p < 0.001) and thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS, 21.37 %, p < 0.001) but
significantly decreased catalase (CAT, 49.59 %, p < 0.001), glutathione (GSH, 13.49 %, p < 0.001) and
glutathione reductase (GSH-r, 23.08 %, p < 0.0001) levels. These results indicate that Al-induced
oxidative stress in the rats. Following administration of
Sempervivum tectorum extract, the levels of the
oxidative stress biomarkers were restored to normal, indicating good antioxidant properties of the
extract. Al blood level was also significantly reduced by 33.45 % (p < 0.001) in rats exposed to the
extract. Rat body weight was not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by the extract.
Conclusion: S. tectorum extract possesses antioxidant activity against free radicals produced in blood
as a result of aluminium exposure.
