Ameliorative Role of Threshold Level of Bilirubin in Newborn Jaundice and Efficacy of Noni Fruit Extract on Phenyl Hydrazine Induced Jaundice Rat

The aims of the present work were to elucidate the role of bilirubin as a free radical scavenger in unconjugated hyperbilirubinemic newborns. Bilirubin above an optimum level is toxic to human systems and is extcreted in urinary and through gastrointestinal tract. It is observed that serum bilirubin up to 85μ mole/l (5mg/dl) has a free radical scavenger activity and exceeding 200μmole/l (12mg/dl) is highly pro-oxidant. Phototherapy is the accepted therapeutic management of jaundiced newborns and has been shown to augment the oxidative stress. The ethanolic extract of Noni fruit administered orally at a dose of 3mg/ml is found to diminish the oxidative stress in erythrocytes of phenylhydrazine–induced unconjugated hyperbilirubinemic jaundiced rats, treated with phototherapy, which ultimately reduces the bilirubin level without inducing additional damages.