Comparative effect of Citrus sinensis and carbimazole on serum T 4 , T 3 and TSH levels
Okon Uduak Uduak1, Elemi John Ani2, Emmauel Columba Inyang Etoh3, Adienbo Ologbagno Macstephen4
1 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria 2 Department of Physiology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria 3 Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gunaecology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Okon Uduak Uduak Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom Nigeria
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0300-1652.132049
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Background: There are previous independent reports on the anti-thyroid property of Citrus sinensis. This isoflavones and phenolic acid-rich natural agent is widely consumed as dietary supplement, thus the need to investigate its comparative effect with a standard anti-thyroid drug on T 4 , T 3 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Objective: To compare the effect of Citrus sinensis and carbimazole (CARB) on blood levels of thyroid hormones (T 4 and T 3 ) and TSH. Materials and Methods: Male wistar albino rats weighing 100-150 g were employed in this research. The rats were randomly assigned to four groups of seven rats per group. Group I served as control and were administered distilled water while groups II-IV were administered with 1500 mg/kg of Citrus sinensis (fresh orange juice; FOJ), 0.1 μg/g of levothyroxine (LVT) and 0.01 mg/g of CARB, respectively, per oral once daily for 28 days. The animals were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia and blood sample collected by cardiac puncture and processed by standard method to obtain serum. TSH, T 4 and T 3 were assayed with the serum using ARIA II automated radioimmunoassay instrument. Results: The results showed that TSH level was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in LVT treated group compared with the FOJ group. T 4 was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the FOJ and CARB groups compared with the control and LVT groups. LVT significantly increased T 4 when compared with FOJ group. T 3 was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the CARB group compared with the control. Conclusion: These findings suggest that FOJ alters thyroid hormones metabolism to reduce their serum levels with a compensatory elevations of TSH level in a direction similar to CARB. |