Phytochemical investigation and radical scavenging activities ofMelia azedarachand its DNA protective effect in cultured lymphocytes

Abstract

Context: Melia azedarach Linn (Meliaceae) is an Ayurvedic medicinal plant which is native to India. It is traditionally used for the treatment of leprosy, inflammation, scrofula, anthelmintic, antilithic, diuretic, deobstruent and cardiac disorders. Objective: To evaluate the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities of the ethanol leaf extract of Melia azedarach (MA) and its protective effect against H 2 O 2 -induced cellular damage in cultured lymphocytes. Materials and methods:The dose-dependent study of MA (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 mg/ml) was used to study in vitro radical scavenging assays. The effective dose of MA (60 mg/ml) was further used to study the H 2 O 2 -induced DNA damage (comet assay and DNA fragmentation assay) in cultured lymphocytes. Results: The ethanol extract of MA (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 mg/ml) exhibited a significant dosedependent inhibition of in vitro radical scavenging assays and their corresponding IC 50 values as follows: hydroxyl radical (26.50 AE 0.26 mg/ml), superoxide anion (30.00 AE 0.32 mg/ml), nitric oxide radical (48.00 AE 0.48 mg/ml), DPPH radical (30.55 AE 0.32 mg/ml) and reducing power (22.00 AE 0.22 mg/ml). The increase in the severity of DNA damage and TBARS was increased significantly (p50.05) at 500 mM H 2 O 2 -treated cultured lymphocytes and RBC cellular membranes. The phytochemical screening studies identified 13 chemical constituents present in the leaf extract of MA. Discussion and conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that MA offers protection against H 2 O 2 -induced cellular damage and it can be developed as an effective antioxidant during oxidative stress.

1-Cinnamoyltrichilinin from Melia azedarach Causes Apoptosis through the p38 MAPK Pathway in HL-60 Human Leukemia Cells

“…Melia azedarach , a species of deciduous trees commonly grown in the southern region of Korea, has been used as a traditional medicinal herb for centuries [ 6 ]. Crude M. azedarach leaf extract had earlier been reported to display strong antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans [ 7 ] and radical scavenging properties in cultured cells [ 8 ]. Several studies have reported the anticancer effects of M. azedarach -derived products until date.…”

Evaluation of the chinaberry extract against the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Merick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in vitro

“…Toxic compounds are tetranortriterpens, known as meliatoxins, present in all the parts of the plants but specially concentrated in the ripe fruits (Botha and Penrith 2009). Aqueous and alcohol extracts prepared from different parts of MA have antibacterial (Sen and Batra 2012), antiparasitic (Szewczuk et al 2006), antifungal (Carpinella et al 2003), antiviral (Alche et al 2003), and antioxidant properties (Marimuthu et al 2013). MA has also been tested for insecticide activity.…”

Repellent and Lethal Activities of Extracts From Fruits of Chinaberry (Melia azedarach L., Meliaceae) Against Triatoma infestans

“…Toxic compounds are tetranortriterpens, known as meliatoxins, present in all the parts of the plants but specially concentrated in the ripe fruits ( 21 ). Aqueous and alcohol extracts prepared from different parts of MA have antibacterial ( 23 ), antiparasitic ( 24 ), antifungal ( 25 ), antiviral ( 26 ), and antioxidant properties ( 27 ) while the ingestion of foliage or fruit by cattle ( 28 ), pigs ( 29 ), dogs ( 30 ), and other species has caused intoxication with fatal outcomes in some cases. MA has also been tested for insecticide activity.…”