The Enhanced Beneficial Effect of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Over Evening Primrose Oil on Oxidative Stress, and Liver Function in Male Arthritic Rats

Aims: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by the onset of oxidative stress. This study aimed to evaluate the enhancing of extra virgin olive (EVOO) and Evening primrose oil (EPO) on oxidative stress and liver enzymes in male Wistar rats and compare between them.

Place and Duration: Faculty of Science biochemistry department, Between July 2018 and August 2018.

Methodology: A Subcutaneous injection of 200 µl of Freund's complete adjuvant into a footpad of the right hind leg of Wistar male rats at two consecutive days induced RA. Rats received EVOO and EPO daily by oral gavage needle with gauge 18 at doses of 5 mg/kg b.wt./day. for 10 and 21 days. No loss was recorded in the experimental rats.

Results: A significant depletion in serum Reduced glutathione content (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione s transferase activities (GST) in arthritic rats compared to normal rats after 10 and 21 days of induction which improved significantly after 10 and 21 days of EPO and EVOO treatments. EPO and EVOO treatments for 21 days increased the GSH and GPX compared to 10 days treatments while no difference in GST activity. EVOO treatment improved GSH and GPX after 10 and 21 days than EPO treatment. The elevated uric acid levels in arthritic rats were markedly ameliorated as a result of EVOO and EPO treatment administration. Increased lipid peroxidation products (MDA), rheumatoid factor, and liver enzyme (Alanine transaminase ALT and Aspartate transaminase AST) were recorded in arthritic rats and they significantly progressed after EPO and EVOO treatments for 10 and 21 days but EVOO had the best effect at 21 days.

Conclusion: EVOO and EPO showed significant antioxidant efficacies and improved affected liver enzymes due to rheumatoid arthritis onset. When comparing olive oil has more antioxidant properties than evening primrose oil, so we recommend more studies on olive oil combination with anti-arthritic medications to improve their efficacies with less toxicity.