SOD is a metalloprotein that is involved in the antioxidant defence
mechanism. It plays an important in the protection of cells against
ROS by lowering the steady state of superoxide anions. SOD
converted superoxide radical to hydrogen peroxide and molecular
oxygen which in turn can be counteracted by catalase or glutathione
peroxidase reaction thereby reducing the level of cellular damage
(Curtis & Mortiz, 1972). The consumption of MOL by the animals
significantly (P >0.05) increased the activity of SOD which indicated its
ability to protect the animal body/cells from cellular damage by
quenching free radicals so as to maintain the meat quality. This observation implies an efficient protective mechanism of MOL against superoxide
anion radical relative to the high concentration of phenolics andflavonoid contents (Robak & Gryglewski, 1988). Oyedemi et al. (2010)
reported SOD as one of the most important enzymes in the antioxidant
defence system. It is an enzyme that repairs cells and reduces the damage
done to them by superoxide by converting them to more stable products
and terminating the radical chain reaction