3.4. Profiles of Antioxidant Enzymes
The quantitative estimation of the enzyme activity was done to support the results of PAGE profile. SOD is the committed enzyme of central antioxidant pathway and according to Fig. 4. B, only Cu-Zn SOD could be detected in the thyroid tissue of untreated as well as UVB exposed sets. Moreover, as compared to the untreated set active level of SOD protein (Fig. 5.1. A, B) were observed to be significantly increased (P < 0.05/0.01) in the thyroid tissue exposed to UVB radiations.
Catalase is an enzyme, which are responsible for the detoxification of H2O2. In the present investigation, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the level of catalase in UVB exposed group, which was restored toward normal in UVB exposed mice treated with naringin (P < 0.05). An increase in the level of catalase is expected to result in the accumulation of harmful H2O2, which can cause DNA damage and initiate follicular damage. Treatment of UVB exposed mice with naringin restored catalase level in UVB exposed mice toward normal and thus, could exert antiproliferative effect by detoxifying H2O2, thereby, minimizing its adverse DNA damaging effects (Figure 5.2. A, B).