Investigation of Some Oxidative Stress Parameters in Drosophila Melanogaster Exposed to Lead and Treated with Picralima Nitida

Abstract

Picralima nitida is a plant used as herb in ethno-medicine for management of several health conditions. . Drosophila melanogaster is a species of fly referred to as the fruit fly. The objective of this study was to induce oxidative stress using lead in Drosophila melanogaster and to investigate its effects on the levels of selected oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide) using standard method after dividing 250 flies into nine groups (A-I). Survival studies and biochemical assays were determined by spectrometry with the homogenized flies. The mean±SD of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide (90.40±.11.67, 0.29±0.04, 0.6978±0.04 respectively) were significantly lower in the control group than the flies induced with lead of different concentrations. When the lead induced flies were treated with Picralima nitida (10mg and 100mg), the level of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide were significantly reduced in all groups treated. Data from this study showed that lead at various concentrations has deleterious effects on the level on biomarkers (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide) in Drosophila melanogaster. While Picralima nitida had a modulatory effect on these oxidative stress parameters.