Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of edible lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) leaves

In vitro and in vivo antioxidant effects of the ethanolic extract of Swertia chirayita

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Swertia chirayita, a medicinal herb endemic to the Tibetan region, is used as a special remedy for liver disorders. The hepatoprotective activity of its plant extracts has been associated with its antioxidant activity. This paper aims to investigate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant effects of Swertia chirayita extracts (SCE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Antioxidant ability of Swertia chirayita was investigated by employing several established in vitro methods. In vivo antioxidant activity was tested against CCl(4)-induced toxicity in mice. The levels and activities of malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH), were then assayed using standard procedures.

RESULTS

SCE exhibited strong antioxidant ability in vitro. The liver and kidney of CCl(4)-intoxicated animals exhibited a significant (p<0.001) decrease in SOD, CAT, and GSH levels. Additionally, these organs exhibited a significant (p<0.001) increase in MDA level. CCl(4) did not exhibit toxicity on mice treated with SCE and Vitamin E. The effects of Swertia chirayita (three dosages) were comparable to those of Vitamin E, except in MDA level in the liver and GSH level in the kidney (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the ethanolic extract of Swertia chirayita possesses in vitro and in vivo antioxidant effects. This supports the traditional use of Swertia chirayita in Tibetan medicine to cure liver diseases.

Evaluation of the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Rubus parvifolius L

The hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of the n-butanol extract of Rubus parvifolius L. (RPL), a widely used medicinal plant, were evaluated. Results demonstrated that RPL extract possessed pronounced hepatoprotective effects against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatic injury in mice, which was at least partially attributed to its strong antioxidant capacity. Treatment with RPL extract markedly attenuated the increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels caused by CCl(4) intoxication. It also significantly prevented the decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content of liver tissue. Meanwhile, histopathological changes of hepatic damage were also remarkably ameliorated. Phytochemical analysis based on high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) revealed the presence of various phenolic compounds, including caffeic acid conjugates, ellagic acid glycosides, and flavonol glycosides, which might be responsible for the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of RPL.

Antioxidant potential of Cymbopogon citratus extract: alleviation of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic oxidative stress and toxicity

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of Cymbopogon citratus against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-mediated hepatic oxidative damage in rats. Rats were administrated with C. citratus extract (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg b.w.) for 14 days before the challenge of CCl(4) (1.2 ml/kg b.w. p.o) on 13th and 14th days. Hepatic damage was evaluated by employing serum biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase-ALT, aspartate aminotransferase-AST and lactate dehydrogenase-LDH), malondialdehye (MDA) level, reduced GSH and antioxidant enzymes (catalase: CAT, glutathione peroxidase: GPX, quinone reductase: QR, glutathione S-transferase: GST, glutathione reductase: GR, glucose-6-phosphate dehyrogenase: G6PD). In addition, CCl(4)-mediated hepatic damage was further evaluated by histopathological examination. However, most of these changes were alleviated by prophylactic treatment of animals with C. citratus dose dependently (p < 0.05). The protection was further evident through decreased histopathological alterations in liver. The results of the present study indicated that the hepatoprotective effect of C. citratus might be ascribable to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging property.

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) plumule polysaccharide protects the spleen and liver from spontaneous inflammation in non-obese diabetic mice by modulating pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine gene expression

A novel lotus plumule polysaccharide (LPPS) was administered to non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice for 15weeks to evaluate the protective effects of LPPS on type 1 diabetes. After the 15-week feeding experiment, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 expressions in the spleen, liver and kidney of the experimental mice were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. The results showed that LPPS significantly (p<0.05) decreased the absolute weights of the enlarged spleens in the NOD mice in a dose-dependent manner, inhibited pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-6 cytokine production and decreased the secretion ratio of IL-6/IL-10 in splenocyte cultures. LPPS markedly decreased the relative expression of pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine genes (TNF-α/IL-10 and IL-6/IL-10) in the livers of NOD mice. Our results suggest that LPPS protected the spleen and liver from spontaneous inflammation in NOD mice by modulating pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine gene expression.

Extracts of Halenia elliptica exhibit antioxidant properties in vitro and in vivo

The antioxidant properties of different extracts of Halenia elliptica was investigated by employing various established in vitro systems. The results showed that various extracts possessed strong antioxidant activity in vitro, and the 70% methanol extract (ME) had the strongest antioxidant activity. Based on our in vitro results, ME was used for investigating the antioxidant properties of H. ellipticain vivo. The liver and kidney of CCl(4)-intoxicated animals exhibited a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Additionally, these organs exhibited a significant increase in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). These changes were significantly reversed, in a dose-dependent manner, after treatment with ME and the standard treatment Vitamin E. Thus, it may be concluded that the ME possesses potent antioxidant properties, and might be valuable natural source of antioxidants that could be applicable to both the medical and food industries.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of the methanolic extract from Halenia elliptica

AIMS OF STUDY

Halenia elliptica, a medicinal herb of Tibetan origin, was commonly used in folk medicine to treat hepatitis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Halenia elliptica against experimentally induced liver injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The antioxidant property of methanolic extract (ME) of Halenia elliptica was investigated by employing various established in vitro systems. The ME of Halenia elliptica was studied here for its hepatoprotective effects against CCl(4)-induced liver toxicity in rats. Activity was measured by monitoring the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin.

RESULTS

The ME possessed strong antioxidant activity in vitro. The results of CCl(4)-induced liver toxicity experiment showed that rats treated with the ME of Halenia elliptica (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg), and also the standard treatment, silymarin (50 mg/kg), showed a significant decrease in ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin levels, which were all elevated in the CCl(4) group (p<0.01). The results observed after administration of 100 mg/kg ME were comparable to those of silymarin at 50 mg/kg (p>0.05). The ME did not show any mortality at doses up to 2000 g/kg body weight.

CONCLUSION

These results seem to support the traditional use of Halenia elliptica in pathologies involving hepatotoxicity, and the possible mechanism of this activity may be due to strong free radical-scavenging and antioxidant activities of ME.