Bilgen ERYILMAZ*, Didem DELİORMAN ORHAN*, Göknur AKTAY**,°, Funda BİNGÖL*

*Gazi University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, 06330 Etiler, Ankara, TURKEY.
**Ankara University Institute of Forensic Medicine, Dikimevi, 06100 Tandoğan, Ankara, TURKEY.
°Corresponding author

Summary:
In this study, the antioxidant effect of cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var capitata) on cadmium- induced oxidative stress was investigated. Mice were pretreated with cabbage juice (1:1 w:w in distilled water for 7 days) prior to cadmium treatment (at a single dose, 2 mg/kg, ip) to provide adequate antioxidant status. Cadmium significantly increased the lipid peroxidation (LPO) in liver and lung, however no significant change was observed in plasma LPO. Animals treated with cadmium showed significant depletion of glutatione (GSH) in liver. Cabbage juice prevented the depletion of GSH significantly. It can be clearly seen that pre-treatment with cabbage juice decreased the cadmium induced LPO and increased GSH levels. We suggest that Brassicaceae vegetables such as cabbage may have antioxidant effects against heavy metal induced oxidative stress.