Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Ibuprofen modulates brain lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant enzymes in rat

Ibuprofen (IBU) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic drug used widely in medicine. The present study evaluated the effects of IBU on lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and reduced glutathione (GSH) in Rattus norvegicus. Sixty male albino rats were divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D), and the groups were further sub-divided into three sub-groups containing five rats. Rats in groups B, C, and D were orally given standard therapeutic dose equivalents of 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg IBU respectively for 21 days and allowed to recover for 7 days. Group A which served as the control was not administered any form of the drug but were given equal volume of distilled water. The results indicate that LPO, SOD, and CAT activities all significantly increased compared with the control. The GSH and GPx values however did not follow consistent pattern. After the 7-day withdrawal from the drug, CAT and LPO returned to the control values. The present study indicates that IBU alters the oxidative parameters in albino rats. Further studies on the pharmacokinetics of the drug and the effects of its metabolites in different species are needed.