Composite methanolic extract of roots of
Withania Somnifera
, leaves of
Ocimum Sanctum
, and rhizomes
of
Zingiber Officinalis
was administered by gavage at the dose of 40 mg 100 g
−1 body weight day
−1 to rat orally
for 15 days prior to experimentation followed by co-administration of above extract at the same dose for 28 days
of swimming to find out the remedial effect of this extract on exhaustive physical exercise-induced oxidative
damage. Swimming resulted significant diminution (p<0.05) in the activities of catalase and superoxide
dismutase along with elevation (p<0.05) in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and conjugated
dienes in cardiac, skeletal, hepatic tissues, cerebrum and cerebellum in respect to control. The levels of all these
parameters were resettled significantly (p<0.05) towards the extract pretreated cum co-treated swimming group.
The antioxidative potency of this composite extract was compared with standard non-enzymatic antioxidant
(vitamin-E) in forced swimming state. The above extract has no general toxic effect as reflected here from the
study of transaminase activities in liver and kidney. Results lead to conclude that the composite extract of above
three plant parts has a therapeutic protective effect on forced swimming-induced oxidative stress in vital organs.
