Pongamia pinnata modulates the oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in ammonium chloride-induced hyperammonemic rats

The effect of Pongamia pinnata (an indigenous plant used in Ayurvedic Medicine in India) leaf extract (PPEt) on circulatory lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status was evaluated in ammonium chloride-induced hyperammonemic rats. Enhanced lipid peroxidation in the circulation of ammonium chloride-treated rats was accompanied by a significant decrease in the levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). PPEt-administered rats experienced a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation with a simultaneous elevation in antioxidant levels. Our results indicate that PPEt modulates these changes by reversing the oxidant-antioxidant imbalance during ammonium chloride-induced hyperammonemia and this could be due to its (i) antihyperammonemic effect by means of detoxifying excess ammonia, urea and creatinine and (ii) antioxidant property. The exact mechanism has to be still investigated and isolation of active constituents is required.