Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of Cordia macleodii leaves

This investigation was undertaken to evaluate ethanolic extract of Cordia macleodii leaves for possible antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated by four established, in vitro methods viz. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method, nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging method, iron chelation method and reducing power method. The extract demonstrated a significant dose dependent antioxidant activity comparable with ascorbic acid. The extract was also evaluated for hepatoprotective activity by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced liver damage model in rats. CCl₄ produced a significant increase in levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin. Pretreatment of the rats with ethanolic extract of C. macleodii (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg po) inhibited the increase in levels of GPT, GOT, ALP and total bilirubin and the inhibition was comparable with Silymarin (100 mg/kg po). The present study revealed that C. macleodii leaves have significant radical scavenging and hepatoprotective activities.     

A comparative study on antioxidant activities of different varieties of Solanum melongena

Eggplant is one of most common vegetables consumed all around the world. The present study evaluates the antioxidant potential of four different varieties of eggplant (long green, purple coloured big size, purple coloured moderate size and purple coloured small size) in terms of total phenolic content, DPPH, total reducing power, superoxide radical scavenging activity, metal chelating activity and total anthocyanin content. Extracts from purple colour small size eggplant fruit demonstrated better antioxidant activities than the other samples which may be attributed to the higher phenolic and anthocyanin content since a linear relation was observed between the TPC and the antioxidant parameters.     

壳寡糖的抗氧化及肝保护功能

目的研究壳寡糖(COS)的抗氧化能力和对CCl4诱导的小鼠肝损伤的保护作用,并初步探讨其作用机制。方法雄性昆明种小鼠,腹腔注射CCl4(20 mg.kg-1)制造肝损伤模型,实验组提前连续12 d灌胃给予COS(1.5 g.kg-1)。小鼠经CCl4损伤24 h后,取血,分离得到血清,测定各组小鼠血清中丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)和天门冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)的活性。脱颈处死小鼠,取部分肝组织,分别测定肝匀浆中总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、总巯基(T-SH)和非蛋白结合巯基(NP-SH)含量、金属硫蛋白含量(MT)、丙二醛(MDA)含量和DNA损伤情况等指标。结果COS组与CCl4组相比,ALT、AST活性和MDA含量分别下降了62.2%、52.9%和34.3%。T-AOC和NP-SH含量分别提高了26.1%和16.3%。MT含量是空白对照组的2.15倍。但是没有抑制T-SH含量降低的作用。DNA电泳结果显示,COS组与CCl4组的DNA链都形成一系列1 kb大小左右的DNA片断。结论COS具有抗氧化能力,对CCl4诱导的小鼠肝损伤有较为明显的保护作用,但是不能减轻DNA的氧化性损伤。     

Preparation, preliminary characterization, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antitumor activities of polysaccharides from the flower of tea plant (Camellia sinensis)

In the present study, the crude polysaccharides from the flowers of tea plant (Camellia sinensis) (TFPS) were prepared with hot water and further fractionated on a DEAE-52 cellulose chromatography to afford three purified fractions of TFPS-1, TFPS-2 and TFPS-3. Then, their preliminary structures, antioxidant and antitumor activities in vitro and hepatoprotective activity in vivo were investigated. Compared with TFPS-2 and TFPS-3, TFPS-1 had relative higher content of sulfate and relative complicated monosaccharide composition. In addition, TFPS-1 and TFPS-3 showed relative stronger antioxidant activity and inhibitory activity on the growth of human gastric cancer BGC-823 cells. For hepatoprotective activity in vivo, we demonstrated that crude TFPS significantly prevented the increase of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, reduced the formation of malondialdehyde and enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury mice. The results suggested that TFPS should be a potent natural polymer with antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antitumor activities.     

Antioxidant properties of Ferulago angulata and its hepatoprotective effect against N-nitrosodimethylamine-induced oxidative stress in rats

Context: Ferulago angulata (Schlecht.) Boiss. (Apiaceae) (FASB) is used to treat liver diseases and has been used both as food and therapeutics by many cultures for thousands of years because of the natural antioxidant compounds.

Objective: This study determines antioxidant properties of FASB flowers, the levels of minerals and vitamins, and also, evaluates the hepatoprotective effect of flowers against N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) induced on liver tissue by assessing antioxidant enzymes and histopathological parameters in Wistar albino rats.

Materials and methods: In the study, the rats were divided into six groups of ten. Control, untreated animals were given 0.9% NaCl. Rats were intraperitoneally given NDMA (10?mg/kg) for the first 7 days. FASB methanol extract (150 and 300?mg/kg) was administered orally for 21 days.

Results: α-Tocopherol, retinol, ascorbic acid, total antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoid contents of FASB were 0.70?±?0.13, 0.29?±?0.03?μg/g, 139.32?±?7.06?μg/100?g, 171.61?±?6.05?mM ascorbic acid/g, 90.47?±?4.11?mg GA/g and 37.39?±?2.85?mg QE/g. DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was obtained IC₅₀ 67.34?±?4.14 and 64.87?±?4.68?μg/mL, respectively.

Discussion and conclusion: The results of the study indicated that FASB flowers contain high levels of vitamins, minerals, total antioxidant activity, phenolics and flavonoids. Due to the positive effect on significant changes in antioxidant enzymes of liver tissue and histopathological examination, it is thought that the plant could be used as a hepatoprotective.     

Modification of C2 functional group on asiatic acid and the evaluation of hepatoprotective effects

For the development of novel hepatoprotective agents, C2 functional group on asiatic acid was modified, and evaluated for their hepatoprotective effects. Among prepared compounds, compounds 10 and 14 showed better hepatoprotective effects compared to silymarin.     

Antioxidant and vasorelaxant activities of the Turraeanthus africanus methanol extract

The present studies evaluate the antioxidant and vasorelaxant activities of the methanol stem bark extract of Turraeanthus africanus (Welw.) Pellegr. (Meliaceae). The antioxidant property investigated through the DPPH scavenging activity showed that the methanol extract from the stem bark of T. africanus was active with an inhibition rate of 72.47% at 500 μg/mL and IC₅₀ of 29.2 μg/mL. This extract (0.1–700 μg/mL) induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of guinea-pig aortic rings precontracted with noradrenaline or KCl, with a maximum relaxation reaching 87.55 and 97.42%, respectively, at a concentration of 700 μg/mL. The extract showed no significant effect on the electrically induced contraction of the guinea-pig papillary muscle. The results of this study indicate that the extract from the stem bark has interesting antioxidant and vasorelaxant properties and represents a potential source of medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.     

Characterization and hepatoprotective evaluation of sesquiterpenes and diterpenes from the aerial parts of Juniperus sabina L.

Previously, we reported on the hepatoprotective activity of the total extract of Juniperus sabina L. against CCl₄ induced liver toxicity in experimental animals. Biologically directed phytochemical study was conducted to identify the active compounds. Male Wistar rats and the standard drug silymarin were used in the study. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated via serum biochemical parameters such as aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin. Tissue parameters including non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH), malonaldehyde (MDA) and total protein (TP) were also determined. Histopathological study was conducted utilizing Mayer’s hematoxylin stain, Periodic Acid Schiff – Hematoxylin (PAS-H) and Masson trichrome technique on light microscope. Electron microscope images were also generated for the study. The activity of the total extract was trapped to the petroleum ether fraction after liquid-liquid fractionation where 51% reduction in the levels of AST, bilirubin and 44% in the levels of ALT were observed. Chromatographic purification of the petroleum ether fraction resulted in the isolation of nine compounds namely: trans-calamenene (1), cadalene (cadalin) (2), epi-cubenol (3), manool (4), calamenene-10β-ol (5), calamenene-10α-ol (6), 4-epi-abietic acid (7), sandaracopimaric acid (8) and isopimaric acid (9). Compounds 1–3, 5 and 6 are belonging to cadinane sesquiterepenes, while compounds 4, 7–9 were of diterpene skeleton. The major compounds were tested for their hepatoprotective effect. Compounds 3 showed marked improvement in the levels of AST and ALT, compound 4 was effective in improving the levels of AST, ALT, GGT, ALP and bilirubin, while compound 7 showed significant improvement in GGT, ALP and bilirubin levels.     

Antioxidant and antigenotoxic activities of Korean fermented soybean.

This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidative and antigenotoxic activities of Korean fermented soybean (Chungkookjang) in vitro and in vivo. The 100% ethanol extract of Chungkookjang (CKJ) inhibited the generation of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazine (DPPH) radicals, and had an inhibitory effect on LDL oxidation. CKJ and its constituents (genistein and daidzein) also inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced DNA damage from NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Furthermore, they showed the cytoprotective effects against H(2)O(2)-induced cell death. In vivo study also demonstrated that an oral administration of CKJ extract (800 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks potently inhibited the formation of malondialdehyde, the damage of DNA and the formation of micronucleated reticulocytes in KBrO(3)-treated mice. The well-known antioxidants, trolox and vitamin C, also showed the potent inhibition on these parameters. All these results indicate that CKJ extract may be a useful antigenotoxic antioxidant by scavenging free radicals, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and protecting against oxidative DNA damage. The isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, may contribute to these biological effects of CKJ extract at least in part. Korean fermented soybean (Chungkookjang) is suggested to be a promising functional food witch can prevent oxidative stress.     

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of phenolic rich fraction of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) leaves

Present study was aimed to investigate antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of phenolic rich fraction (PRF) of Seabuckthorn leaves on CCl₄ induced oxidative stress in Sprague Dawley rats. Total phenolic content was found to be 319.33 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g PRF and some of its phenolic constituents, such as gallic acid, myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin were found to be in the range of 1.935-196.89 mg/g of PRF as determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).Oral administration of PRF at dose of 25-75 mg/kg body weight significantly protected from CCl₄ induced elevation in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and bilirubin in serum, elevation in hepatic lipid peroxidation, hydroperoxides, protein carbonyls, depletion of hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and decrease in the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The PRF also protected against histopathological changes produced by CCl₄ such as hepatocytic necrosis, fatty changes, vacuolation, etc. The data obtained in the present study suggests that PRF has potent antioxidant activity, prevent oxidative damage to major biomolecules and afford significant protection against CCl₄ induced oxidative damage in the liver.     

Preliminary characterization,antioxidant activity in vitro and hepatoprotective effect on acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice of polysaccharides from the peduncles of Hovenia dulcis

The fresh fleshy peduncles of Hovenia dulcis have been used as a food supplement and traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of liver diseases and alcoholic poisoning for more than a millennium. The objectives of the present study, therefore, were to determine the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from the peduncles of H. dulcis (HDPS) and to evaluate its hepatoprotective effect on acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. HDPS, prepared by hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation and treatment of macroporous resin, was found to be non-starch polysaccharide and mainly composed of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose and galacturonic acid. In in vitro antioxidant assay, HDPS exhibited high superoxide radical scavenging activity, strong inhibition effect on lipid peroxidation and a medium ferrous ion-chelating activity. For hepatoprotective activity in vivo, the administration of HDPS significantly decreased the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, significantly decreased the liver level of malondialdehyde and remarkably restored the liver activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in alcohol-induced liver injury mice. The results suggested that HDPS had a significant protective effect against acute alcohol-induced liver injury possibly via its antioxidant activity to protect biological systems against the oxidative stress.     

Evaluation of the hepatoprotective effect of combination between hinokiflavone and Glycyrrhizin against CCl4 induced toxicity in rats

Liver diseases are one of the fatal syndromes due to the vital role of the liver. Most of the effective treatment of liver conditions are of natural origin. Silymarin (SI) is the standard drug used for treatment of impaired liver functions. Two natural compounds possessing promising liver protection and with different chemical structures namely; the bioflavonoid hinokiflavone (HF) isolated from Junipers phoenicea family Cupressaceae and the sweet saponin Glycyrrhizin (GL) present in Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice) were selected for the current study. Since the two compounds are of different nature, they may act by different mechanisms and express synergistic effect. Combination of the two compounds using to dose levels were challenged with single doses of HF, GL and SI as well. The comparison was monitored via measuring serum biochemical parameters including, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin, tissue parameters such as MDA, NP-SH and TP, histopathological study using light and electron microscope. Protective effect on kidney was also monitored histopathologically and biochemically through observing the levels of LDH, creatinine, creatinine-kinase, urea and uric acid. The combinations of HF and GL showed protective effect more than the used single doses of HF and GL alone. However, SI was superior to the used combination in the two used doses in all the measured parameters. The liver and kidney cells appearance under normal and electron microscope showed that SI treated groups showed almost normal cells with slight toxic signs. Cells from group treated with the higher doses of the combination of HF and GL showed slight signs of intoxication under light and electron microscope indicating good level of protection. Although the combination of HF and GL expressed good protection in the higher dose, however, the combination did not exceed the protective effect of SI.     

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the leaf essential oils of Himalayan Lauraceae species

The leaf essential oils from seven Himalayan Lauraceae species viz. Neolitsea pallens, Lindera pulcherrima, Dodecadenia grandiflora, Persea duthiei, Persea odoratissima, Persea gamblei and Phoebe lanceolata exhibited potent antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed by using β-carotene bleaching assay, reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation methods. The oils of D. grandiflora and L. pulcherrima showed a potent free radical scavenging activity as evidenced by low IC₅₀ value for DPPH radical (0.032 mg/ml and 0.087 mg/ml, respectively) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (in between IC₅₀ = 0.44 mg/ml and IC₅₀ = 0.74 mg/ml, respectively). The oils were tested against three Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica enterica and Pasturella multocida) and one Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria at different concentrations using disc diffusion and tube dilution methods. The inhibition zones (IZ) and MIC values for bacterial strains were in the range of 8.7–22.0 mm and 3.90–31.25 μl/ml, respectively.     

五味子保肝作用的研究进展

五味子是常用的传统滋补类中药,具有宁心安神的功效,主治心神失养之虚烦心悸,失眠多梦等症状。近年来,国内外关于五味子在保肝方面的药理作用进行了大量的研究,本文对五味子在此方面的研究进行了总结阐述,为临床研究开发保肝新药提供了理论参考。     

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of baicalin against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity

Scutellaria baicalensis is widely cultivated in eastern Asia, particularly in China. In the present study, we isolated baicalin from this plant and studied for its hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄-induced oxidative damage in rats. Our findings revealed that baicalin exhibited strong antioxidant activity in vitro. In established in vivo tests, baicalin showed effective protective effects by reducing the elevated levels of glutamate pyruvate transaminase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) and malondialdehyde (MDA) against CCl₄-induced damage, and it restored the activities antioxidant defense substances, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH), toward their normal levels. These data were supplemented with histopathological examination of rat liver sections. The results demonstrated that baicalin could be proposed to protect the liver against CCl₄-induced oxidative damage in rats, and the possible underlying mechanism of the activity could be due to its free radical-scavenging and antioxidant activity.     

Antioxidant, cytotoxic activities, and structure-activity relationship of gallic acid-based indole derivatives

A new series of gallic hydrazones containing an indole moiety was synthesized through the reaction of gallic hydrazide and different indole carboxaldehydes. Their antioxidant activities were determined on DPPH radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The in-vitro cytotoxic activities of the compounds were evaluated against HCT-116 (human colon cancer cell line) and MCF-7 (estrogen-dependent human breast cancer cell line) by the MTT method. An attempt to correlate the biological results with their structural characteristics has been done. A limited positive structure activity relationship was found between cytotoxic and antioxidant activities.     

Antioxidant and glutathione-related enzymatic activities in rat sciatic nerve

The present work tries to establish the antioxidant capacity of the peripheral nervous tissue of the rat, in terms of the enzymatic activities present in this tissue that either prevent the formation of activated species as the semiquinone radical (DT-diaphorase), protect against activated oxygen species (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase), conjugate natural toxic products or xenobiotics (glutathione S-transferases, especially the activity conjugating 4-hydroxy-nonenal), or complete the glutathione system metabolism (glutathione disulfide reductase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase). All the activities studied are lower in this tissue than they are in liver, except for γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. The relevance of the results obtained and its possible relationship with different neuropathies is discussed. It is concluded that the peripheral nervous tissue is by far less protected than the liver against oxidative damage.     

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of Egyptian moraceous plants against carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress and liver damage in rats

Context: In the absence of reliable liver-protective drugs in modern medicine, a large number of medicinal preparations are recommended for treatment of liver disorders.

Objective: The antioxidant, hepatoprotective and kidney protective activities of methanol extracts of Ficus carica Linn. (Moraceae) leaves and fruits and Morus alba Linn. root barks (Moraceae) are evaluated here.

Materials and methods: Liver and kidney damage were induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride in a subcutaneous dose of 1?mL (40% v/v in corn oil)/kg. The extract was given intraperitoneally at doses of 50?mg/kg (F. carica leaf and M. alba root bark) and 150?mg/kg (F. carica fruit). The activity of the extracts was comparable to that of silymarin, a known hepatoprotective agent. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring blood glutathione (GSH) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, and malondialdehyde equivalent (MDA). Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated by measuring serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and total protein. These biochemical observations were supported by histopathological examination of liver sections. Kidney function was evaluated by measuring plasma urea and creatinine.

Results: Methanol extracts of Ficus carica and Morus alba showed potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities; in-depth chromatographic investigation of the most active extract (Ficus carica leaf extract) resulted in identification of umbelliferone, caffeic acid, quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, and kaempferol-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside.

Discussion and conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the phenolic constituents of Ficus carica leaf and Morus alba root bark are responsible at least in part for the observed protective effects.     

当飞利肝宁防治抗结核药致肝损害的效果观察

目的探讨当飞利肝宁胶囊在抗痨治疗中的保肝作用。方法将112例初治结核患者随机分为两组,治疗组55例,对照组57例,抗痨治疗前肝功能均正常。两组均以2EHRZ/4HRE方案服用抗结核药,治疗组加用当飞利肝宁胶囊,对照组不服保肝药。每个月复查肝功能,如出现肝功损害则口服当飞利肝宁胶囊保肝治疗。结果治疗组肝损害发生率3.64%,对照组21.05%,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;对照组肝损害患者服用当飞利肝宁治疗两周后轻中度肝损害者肝功能复常率达72.73%,有效率100%。结论当飞利肝宁胶囊能有效预防和治疗抗痨药引起的肝损害。     

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of branches extracts of five Juniperus species from Turkey

Context: Several Juniperus species (Cupressaceae) are utilized in folk medicine in the treatment of infections and skin diseases.

Objective: This work was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of methanol and water branches extracts of Juniperus species from Turkey: Juniperus communis L. var. communis (Jcc), Juniperus communis L. var. saxatilis Pall. (Jcs), Juniperus drupacea Labill. (Jd), Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus (Joo), Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. macrocarpa (Sibth. & Sm.) Ball. (Jom).

Materials and methods: Total phenolics, total flavonoids and condensed tannins were spectrophotometrically determined. The antioxidant properties were examined using different in vitro systems. The toxicity was assayed by Artemia salina lethality test. The antimicrobial potential against bacteria and yeasts was evaluated using minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC) measurements. The effect on bacteria biofilms was tested by microtiter plate assay.

Results: Both in the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and TBA (thiobarbituric acid) test Jom resulted the most active (IC₅₀?=?0.034?±?0.002?mg/mL and 0.287?±?0.166 µg/mL). Joo exhibited the highest reducing power (1.78?±?0.04 ASE/mL) and Fe²⁺ chelating activity (IC₅₀?=?0.537?±?0.006?mg/mL). A positive correlation between primary antioxidant activity and phenolic content was found. The extracts were potentially non-toxic against Artemia salina. They showed the best antimicrobial (MIC?=?4.88-30.10 µg/mL) and anti-biofilm activity (60–84%) against S. aureus.

Discussion and conclusion: The results give a scientific basis to the traditional utilization of these Juniperus species, also demonstrating their potential as sources of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds.