Antiradical and antilipoperoxidative effects of some plant extracts used by Sri Lankan traditional medical practitioners for cardioprotection

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in many pathogenic processes including the cardiovascular system. Detoxification of ROS by antioxidants (AO) therefore affords protection against such diseases. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that antioxidants contribute to cardioprotection. Therefore, nine plants that are components of Ayurvedic formulations used for the therapy of cardiovascular diseases were investigated to determine whether antioxidant activity is one of the mechanisms by which these plants exert cardioprotection. Initially aqueous freeze dried extracts of the plants were prepared and the antioxidant activity was measured (a) in vitro, by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging and deoxyribose damage protection assays, and (b) in vivo, by effects on lipid peroxidation. Terminalia arjuna showed significant DPPH radical scavenging activity with EC(50) 8.3 +/- 0.3 microg/mL (similar to L-ascorbic acid). The potency of this activity was much lower in Cassia fistula (EC(50) = 59.0 +/- 2.7 microg/mL). The other seven extracts demonstrated no such activity in the concentration range tested. In the deoxyribose damage protection assay, T. arjuna> demonstrated no significant effect in the concentration range 0-20 microg/mL, but above -20 microg/mL concentration (20-125 microg/mL), a pro-oxidant activity was observed (although markedly less than demonstrated by L-ascorbic acid). A similar trend was observed with Vitex negundo. In contrast, C. fistula afforded a 30% protection against such damage at 125 microg/mL concentration. Other plant extracts did not show any activity in this assay. At a dose of 90 mg/kg (single dose) T. arjuna, cardiac lipid peroxidation in male Wistar rats was reduced by 38.8% +/- 2.6% (p<0.05) whereas the reduction was only 11.6% +/- 3.5% in the case of C. fistula even at a dose of 120 mg/kg. Of all the plants tested, T. arjuna demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity. Overall results show that only some plants used in the therapy of cardiovascular disease exert their beneficial effects via antioxidant activity.

Evaluation of the radioprotective effect of Liv 52 in mice

“…The Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. DOI 10.1002/em plants Cichorium intybus and Terminalia arjuna that are present in Liv 52 have been reported to possess antioxidant and antilipoperoxidative activities [Gazzani et al, 2000;Gupta et al, 2001;Kim and Yang, 2001;Munasinghe et al, 2001].…”

Phytochemical Screening, Elemental and Functional Group Analysis of Vitex Negundo L. Leaves

“…In Ayurveda, it is used as antihelmentic and in folklore system, it is used in the treatment of asthma, cancer, jaundice, liver disorders, wounds, rheumatism, joint pains, antiallergic agent etc [2]. Extract of nirgudi has been shown various biological activities such as antibacterial [3], antifeedant [4], antifungal [5], antilarval [6], insecticidal [7], pesticidal activity [8], analgesic activity [9], anti-inflammatory activity [10,11], anticonvulsant activity [12], antioxidant activity [13,14] etc. Almost all parts of nirgudi like leaves, roots, bark, fruits, flowers and seeds are used for medicinal purpose in the form of powder decoction, juice, oil, dry extract etc [15].…”

Insight into the bronchodilator activity ofVitex negundo

“…A new diterpenoid, negundol was reported from the seeds of V. negundo (Zheng et al, 2012). Pharmacologically, the plant has been reported as hepatoprotective (Avadhoot & Rana, 1991), antibacterial (Perumal-Samy et al, 1998), hypnotic (Gupta et al, 1999), antioxidant (Munasinghe et al, 2001), analgesic and antihistaminic (Dharmasiri et al, 2003), anticancer (Diaz et al, 2003), antiandrogenic (Das et al, 2004), and anti-inflammatory (Tandon & Gupta, 2006). Nair and Saraf (2005) investigated the extract of V. negundo in guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle and found that it inhibits the release of histamine and products of arachidonic acid metabolism, which are responsible for tracheal smooth muscle contraction.…”