The possible protective effect of kolaviron on rat erythrocytes followingsimultaneous administration of kolaviron (100 mg/kg of body weight/day) withcarbon tetrachloride CCl4 (1.195 g/kg of body weight/day) by separateintraperitoneal injections was investigated.
Kolaviron, a biflavonoid fraction of the defatted alcoholic extract of Garcinia kola seed, inhibits the accumulation of lipid peroxidationproducts in erythrocytes. A significant reduction (p>0.05) by about34% of lipid peroxidation products was observed in erythrocytes of ratstreated simultaneously with CCl4 and kolaviron when compared to CCl4-treatedrats. Similarly, the significant increase (p >0.05) in membranecholesterol observed in CCl4-treated rats was significantly decreased(p>0.05) in rats treated simultaneously with CCl4 andkolaviron. Therefore, there was no significant difference (p >0.05) incholesterol–phospholipid ratio (C/P) of rats treated simultaneouslywith CCl4 and kolaviron, and the controls. Thus, kolaviron normalizes the CCl4-induced change in erythrocyte membrane composition.
In addition, kolaviron antagonizes the effect of CCl4 on the activity ofthe membrane bound enzyme, Ca2+-ATPase. These results suggest thatkolaviron protects erythrocyte membranes from free radical attack, on bothlipids and proteins.
