Possible protective effect of kolaviron on CCl4-induced erythrocyte damage in rats.

The possible protective effect of kolaviron on rat erythrocytes following simultaneous administration of kolaviron (100 mg/kg of body weight/day) with carbon tetrachloride CCl4 (1.195 g/kg of body weight/day) by separate intraperitoneal injections was investigated. Kolaviron, a biflavonoid fraction of the defatted alcoholic extract of Garcinia kola seed, inhibits the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products in erythrocytes. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) by about 34%, of lipid peroxidation products was observed in erythrocytes of rats treated simultaneously with CCl4 and kolaviron when compared to CCl4-treated rats. Similarly, the significant increase (p < 0.05) in membrane cholesterol observed in CCl4-treated rats was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in rats treated simultaneously with CCl4 and kolaviron. Therefore, there was no significant difference (p < 0.05) in cholesterol phospholipid ratio (C/P) of rats treated simultaneously with 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 of the membrane bound enzyme, Ca2+-ATPase. These results suggest that kolaviron protects erythrocyte membranes from free radical attack, on both lipids and proteins.