ANTIOXIDANT – MEDIATED GLUTATHIONE LEVELS OF GLUCOSE – 6 – PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE – DEFICIENT ERYTHROCYTES UNDER DRUG-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS.

Aloh, G. S, *Obeagu, Emmanuel Ifeanyi, Okoroiwu, I.L., Odo, Christian Emeka, Odo Matthew Chibunna, Kanu,S.N, Elemchukwu, Q., Okpara,K.E., Ugwu, Getrude Uzoma,

ABSTRACT

The effects of two antioxidants , ascorbic acid and α– tocopherol, on the glutathione (GSH) levels of glucose – 6 – phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) – deficient erythrocytes were studied before inducing oxidative stress with acetylphenylhydrazine (APHZ) , and after inducing the stress, followed separately with ascorbic acid and α – tocopherol treatments. Before APHZ treatment , the mean GSH levels in the control and G6PD – deficient erythrocytes were 38.82 + 1.48 mg/100ml and 36.00 + 2.44mg/100ml respectively. Their respective mean post – APHZ levels were 37.00 + 2.35 mg/100ml and 17.00+ 0.01mg/100ml. Post – APHZ + ascorbic acid, the control’s mean GSH level was 37.75 + 2.50mg/100ml and the mean level in the G6PD – deficient cells was 27.00+ 3.44mg/100ml , while their respective post – APHZ + α– tocopherol levels were 38.76 + 2.00mg/100ml (control) and 33.00 + 1.93mg/100ml (G6PD – deficient red cells). The results of this study indicate that the initial effect of an oxidant drug on erythrocytes is to lower their GSH levels. This effect was found to be more severe in G6PD – deficient red cells than in the non – deficient ones. Ascorbic acid and α– tocopherol could ameliorate the effect of this oxidant stressor, and possibly others, but the latter was more effective. Its fat – solubility is suspected to be responsible for this enhanced efficacy.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Glucose -6 –phosphate dehydrogenase; oxidative stress; ascorbic acid; ? – tocopherol.