Evaluation of Antioxidant, Lipid Peroxidation And Toxic Effects After Apple Intake In Healthy Human Volunteers

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have demonstrated the amelioration of enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants as well as decrease of lipid peroxidation status after the intake of apple without any observable toxicity in animal models. Human trials are comparatively less studied on these aspects. Many a literatures shows that the extensive damage to the cells caused by free radicals appears to be a major contributor in ageing and other debilitating diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cataracts, compromised immune system, rheumatoid arthritis and brain dysfunction. As per several literatures reviewed the saying "An Apple a day keeps the doctor away" is true with regard to apple. As per the reviews the fruit apple possess antioxidant, anti-peroxidative and antitoxic effects. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The Primary objective of this study was to evaluate the circulatory levels of selected antioxidant parameters and lipid peroxidation marker in healthy human volunteers before and after the intake of apple for a period of 0-90 days. As the secondary objective of the study we also assessed the toxic effects of apple supplementation by determining Hepatobiliary and Renal function tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The work has been carried out at the Dept. of Medical Biochemistry, School of Health Sciences, Kannur University. Ethical committee clearance has been obtained for the conduct of this study. An informed consent was collected from each participant prior to the study. A clinical proforma was given to each participant to collect data such as weight, diet pattern and previous history of illness. A total number of 25 healthy human volunteers (age group of 18-65Yrs) as adjudged from their clinical features were selected for the study. They were divided into three groups as Group Ia--Healthy human volunteers before apple intake, Group Ib--Healthy Human volunteers after 45 days of apple intake and Group Ic--healthy human volunteers after 90 days of apple intake. Participants suffering from any diseases/disorders that may interefere with the study were excluded. 5mL of blood sample was taken for the analysis. Blood samples were collected before the intake, 45 days after the intake and 90 days after the intake of fresh apple fruit at a dosage of 200g/ day. Serum/Plasma was separated and estimated using the standard methods. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The final result showed that majority of the study population showed a significant increase in enzymic and non enzymic antiox