ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME ACTIVITY OF SHATHAVARIN- IV IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER UNDER OXIDATIVE STRESS

Abstract

Shathavarin-IV is a bioactive compound (a steroidal saponin) of Asparagus racemosus. We examined the antioxidant effects of Shathavarin-IV associated with LPO in Drosophila. The antioxidant efficacy of the compound was evaluated through the determination of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and LPO in the homogenate of the Shathavari-IV supplemented flies of D. melanogaster under stressed and non-stressed conditions. The oxidative stress was induced by paraquat exposure. All the analyses were carried out in males and females at two different concentrations of Shr-IV (1mg/ml and 10mg/ml of diet) fed groups. The induced oxidative stress by paraquat exposure was evidenced by significant declining in the level of SOD, CAT and G6PD with the increase in the level of LPO. In case of dose-I and dose-II pretreated flies, a significant diminishes in the level of LPO with significant increase of antioxidant enzymes were observed. The compound Shr-IV exhibited better level of protective ability in high dose treatment against the stress compared to low dose.