EFFECT OF JATROPHA TANJORENSIS LEAVES SUPPLEMENT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF SOME ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES, VITAMINS AND LIPID PEROXIDATION IN RATS E.S. OMOREGIE 1 and A.U. OSAGIE Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Life Sciences University of Benin P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria Accepted for Publication June 4, 2009 ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effect of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves supplements on the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin E, vitamin C and malondialdehyde in male albino rats of the Wistar strain. Nutritional oxidative stress was induced in these animals by using low protein diet. The results showed significant reduction (P < 0.05) in malondialdehyde level in the rats fed the leaves supplemented diet with significant increase (P < 0.05) in the concentrations of vitamin C and vitamin E relative to controls. The catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the rats fed the low protein diet while these parameters were increased (P < 0.05) in the rats fed the leaves supplements as compared with control values. The study therefore suggests that J. tanjorensis leaves may have anti- oxidative potential against reactive oxygen species that are produced in protein energy malnutrition. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Nutritional oxidative stress, especially in protein energy malnutrition (PEM), is characterized by increase in the production of reactive oxygen species due to an imbalance between the prooxidant load and the antioxidant defense system. Nevertheless, numerous studies have shown that increased dietary intake of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables may diminish the risk for most degenerative diseases. The results from this in vivo study also suggest that Jatropha tanjorensis leaves possess antioxidative effect in rats exposed to nutritional oxidative 1 Corresponding author. TEL: +234-8023397020; EMAIL: ehiomoregie@yahoo.co.uk DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-4514.2010.00392.x Journal of Food Biochemistry 35 (2011) 409–424. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 409