Protective Effects of Hot Water Extract of Safflower Leaves and Its Component Luteolin-7-O-Glucoside on Paraquat-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats.

Abstract

Suppressive effects of hot water extract of safflower leaves (Ex) and its major component luteolin-7-O-glucoside (LuGlc) on oxidative stress were determined in rats in which oxidative stress had been induced by paraquat (PQ). Both Ex and LuGlc suppressed lowering of food intake, and body weight gain, increases in lung weight, liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and a decrease in the liver triacylglycerol concentration were all induced by PQ-feeding. Rises in the liver total glutathione and oxidized glutathione concentrations in the PQ-fed rats were suppressed by adding Ex and LuGlc to the PQ diet. Moreover, Ex and LuGlc tended to suppress decreases in catalase activity in the liver mitochondrial fraction and liver ␣-tocopherol concentration which were induced by PQ-feeding. These results showed that both Ex and LuGlc, which is a major component of Ex, may be available to suppress oxidative stress in vivo.

Toxic effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower) extract on mouse spermatogenesis

“…After filtering, the filtrate (aqueous extract) was autoclaved (at 121°C for 20 min) and stored in a 4°C. All stages of the extraction procedure are the same as those used in local food preparations [10,11]. Finally, the yield ratio of the extract was 8.9%.…”

Effect of Bark Extract of Bathysa cuspidata on Hepatic Oxidative Damage and Blood Glucose Kinetics in Rats Exposed to Paraquat

“…These highly toxic radicals are extremely reactive with macromolecules, and their presence in excess can result in organ damage and eventually death (Suntres 2002). It has already been established that the toxicity of PQ manifests as systemic effects such as lethargy, anorexia, progressive weight loss, organ edema, and fibrosis in animals and humans Igarashi et al 2001). In the present study, all of these effects were observed in the poisoned animals, with the exception of weight loss and liver fibrosis, which are characteristic of prolonged exposure to this herbicide (Akahori and Oehme 1983;Dasta 1978).…”

“…The experimental model of PQ was previously validated as a model of oxidative liver injury Igarashi et al 2001;Konstantinova and Russanov 1999;Tieppo et al 2006), and the dose administered (30 mg/kg of body weight, i.p.) may be classified as moderate exposure to PQ (60% of the LD 50 ) in rats (LD 50 ¼ 50 mg/kg) and high exposure in humans considering the human LD 50 of 35 mg/kg (Nwabisi and Nwanze 1997;Sittipunt 2005).…”

“…The increased ROS production induces oxidation of lipids and proteins from the cell membrane, leading to morphological and functional changes in several organs and eventually to death (Fukushima et al 2002;Nwabisi and Nwanze 1997;Sittipunt 2005;Suntres 2002). As a large percentage of liver disorders occur as a result of exposure to chemical compounds capable of inducing oxidative stress, models of PQ-induced liver injury have been useful in investigating plants with hepatoprotective potential (Elbling et al 2005;Igarashi et al 2001;Tieppo et al 2006).…”

“…Liver disorders are commonly reported in cases of poisoning by agricultural chemicals, including paraquat (PQ) (Giri et al 1979;Igarashi et al 1999;Igarashi et al 2001;Konstantinova and Russanov 1999). Paraquat (1,1 0 -dimethyl-4,4 0 -bipyridinium dichloride) is a quaternary nitrogen herbicide widely used around the world (Chang et al 2009).…”