The in vitro antioxidant and in vivo hepatoprotective effects of crude ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) seeds were evaluated in male Wistar rats against ethanol induced liver damage in preventive and curative models. The antioxidant activity of M. oleifera was assayed by DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging activity. The various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidant, ascorbic acid. In two different set of experiments, the M. oleifera extracts (50,100 and 300 mg/kg body weight (bw), and silymarin (100 mg/kg bw) were administered orally in both the studies. Liver injury was induced by 40% ethanol administration (3.76 gm/kg bw, orally) for 25 days. In the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil(DPPH), hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging activity, the IC 50 values of ethanolic extract were 196.45 ± 0.25, 175.57 ± 0.39 and 213.15 ± 0.27 µg/ml respectively. The level of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin were determined to assay hepatotoxicity. Ethanol administration caused severe hepatic damage in rats as evidenced by elevated serum AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin levels. The M. oleifera and silymarin administration prevented the toxic effect of ethanol on the above serum parameters in both preventive and curative models. The present study concludes that ethanolic extract of M. oleifera seeds has significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity against ethanol induced hepatotoxicity, which may be associated with its high bioactive compounds including glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, thiocarbamates, and flavonoids and antioxidant properties.

Entada rheedi is claimed to have antistress activity by folklore which is available abundantly in several places of India. The present study was planned to evaluate the phytochemical, anti-oxidant, anti-stress and cerebroprotective activities of ethyl acetate extract of bark of Entada rheedi (EAER). The bark of Entada rheedi was collected and extracted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate extract was subjected to phytochemical screening (chemical and HPTLC), antioxidant (in-vitro), anti-stress (mice model) and cerebroprotective activities (cerebral ischemia model). EAER showed the presence of flavonoids as primary phytoconstituents. EAER significantly reduced the immobility time in swimming endurance and tail suspension test. EAER significantly reduced the TBARS levels and augmented tissue antioxidants in restraint stress model and cerebral ischemia model. The levels of MOA-A were reduced in the EAER treated animals and cortisol levels also reduced in EAER treated animals. Histopathology also supported the biochemical parameters. The EAER effect was compared with reference standard diazepam and Ashwagandha. EAER showed significant antioxidant, anti-stress and cerebroprotective activities and the protective effect could be due to the presence of flavonoids as phytoconstituents.