Effects of methanol extracts from roots, leaves, and fruits of the Lebanese strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne) on cardiac function together with their antioxidant activity

Abstract

Context: Several plant-derived natural products have been used in clinical phase for applications in neurological, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases. Arbutus andrachne L. (Ericacea) is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region. Traditionally, the fruits and leaves of Arbutus tree are well known and used as antiseptics, diuretics, blood tonic, and laxatives. Objective: Data regarding the biological effects of compounds derived from the Lebanese Arbutus andrachne are not available. In the present work, we studied the antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of leaves, fruits, and roots of the plant against electrolysis; together with their effects on the cardiodynamics of isolated perfused rabbit hearts. Materials and methods: In vitro electrolysis of the different root, leaves, and fruits methanol extracts was evaluated by the amount of free radicals that has been reduced by increasing the concentration of root extracts ranging from 0.5 to 2 mg after 1, 2, 3, and 4 min. Left ventricular pressure (LVP), heart rate (HR), and coronary flow (CR) were investigated in isolated rabbit heart after administration of 0.5, 1, 2, and 2 mg of each methanol extracts plotted against time (0, 0.5, 1.5, 5, and 10 min), according to the Langendorff method. Lipid peroxidation study was performed by the colorimetric method on myocard tissue after incubation with 500 ml of the different methanol extracts. The amount of MDA was determined at 500 nm absorbance after 5 min incubation. Results: Among the different methanol extracts, the roots showed the highest in vitro antioxidant activity, particularly observed at concentration of 2 mg which completely inhibits free radical generation after 4 min. LVP decreases by 32% at the dose of 2 mg of root extracts after 5 min. No significant effect was observed by the three tested extracts on the heart rate. The three methanol extracts did not show any significant effect on the coronary flow. Moreover, the roots show an increase in the coronary flow at a concentration of 1 and 2 mg/ml during 1 min. Electrolysis on heart tissue treated with the roots extracts shows a decrease in the MDA level from 70.51 ± 6.71 to 48.58 ± 4.15 nmole/g of tissue. Discussion and conclusion: Methanol extracts of the roots possess antihypertensive effect that may result from its ability to decrease the LVP together with its protective role by inhibiting free radical generation and significantly decreasing the MDA level of heart tissue. ARTICLE HISTORY

Morphometric and Molecular Analysis of the Three Arbutus Species of Greece

“…A. unedo is used and A. andrachne has the potential for use as an ornamental shrub in the urban and suburban landscape , while both are recommended species for reforestations in Mediterranean region, where fires are common, as they are characterized by vigorous re-sprouting after fire and overgrazing (Konstantinidis et al, 2006;Moreno-Jiménez, 2008;Kazanis et al, 2012). They both have high medicinal value (Diba et al, 2010;González et al, 2010;Afifi-Yazar et al, 2011;Mendes et al, 2011;Etxeberria et al, 2012;Abidi et al, 2015;Güler et al, 2015), while strawberry tree fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C, dietary fiber and total available carbohydrates, sugars, potassium and secondary metabolites, such as phenolic compounds, being poor in lipids and Na, with ascorbic acid and fat-soluble antioxidants (Ruiz-Rodríguez, 2011;Mosele et al, 2016) of higher values than other red small fruits (Guerreiro et al, 2013). They are also used for preparing liqueurs and aromatic traditional distillate (Soufleros et al, 2005;González et al, 2011;Botelho et al, 2015).…”

Investigating Possible Synergism in the Antioxidant and Antibacterial Actions of Honey and Propolis from the Greek Island of Samothrace through Their Combined Application

“…The type of honey used was a blossom honey, harvested during spring and early summer of 2021 by beekeepers with apiaries on the island of Samothrace. Its main botanical source was the tree Arbutus andrachne L. (Ericaceae), commonly called the Greek strawberry tree, which is native to the Mediterranean region and the Middle East [ 33 ]. The botanical origin of the honey was verified through a melissopalynological analysis, conducted according to standard methods [ 34 ] and as previously described [ 18 ].…”

Comparative study of polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity in fruits of Arbutus unedo, A. andrachne and their natural hybrid A.× andrachnoides

“…A. andrachne has also been employed in folk medicine and there are reports on its constituents (Sakar et al, 1991). Thus, although both A. unedo and A. andrachne have been studied for their industrial value (Issa et al, 2008;Barros et al, 2010;Afifi-Yazar et al, 2011;Mendes et al, 2011;Miguel et al, 2014;Abidi et al, 2015), there are no data about the nutritional and phytochemical characteristics for use in the food and medicinal industry of their hybrid A. × andrachnoides.…”