Chemoprotective Effect of Sobatum against Lithium-Induced Oxidative Damage in Rats

Lithium therapy mainly used in curing some psychiatric diseases responsible for numerous undesirable side effects on different organs in humans. The present study explores the beneficial effect of sobatum, a purified compound of Solanum trilobatum , on lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 )-induced multiple organ toxicity in rats. Li 2 CO 3 (150 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally in drinking water for a period of 30 days to induce toxicity in rats. Li 2 CO 3 could induce lipid peroxidation to a significant extent that was accompanied by marked reduction in reduced glutathione, SOD, CAT, GST, GPX activities, and parallel decline in ATP in tissues. Toxicity resulted in abnormal elevation of lipids such as cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and fatty acids in liver tissues. Treatment with sobatum affords substantial protection in liver and heart by altering all the parameters to near normal levels that were further confirmed by histological examination. Sobatum prevents Li 2 CO 3 -induced oxidative damage of DNA by reducing DNA fragmentation indicating its block on cell death. However, these results demonstrated that sobatum has the ability to suppress the drug-induced toxicity. Key words : Antioxidants, lithium toxicity, oxidative damage, sobatum, Solanum trilobatum .