A study on antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective actions of Aegiceras corniculatum (stem) extracts.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective potential of Aegiceras corniculatum Linn. Blanco (Aegicerataceae).


RESULTS
The n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts, derived from Aegiceras corniculatum stems, scavenged superoxide anions (O2*) and hydroxyl radicals (*OH) in nitro blue tetrazolium reduction and deoxyribose degradation assays, respectively. All the extracts inhibited the process of lipid peroxidation at its initiation step. Additionally, in rat liver microsomes n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts also caused termination of radical chain reaction supporting their scavenging action towards lipid peroxy radicals (LOO*). Moreover, increased production of O2* in human neutrophils, stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and/or opsonized zymosan were also suppressed (IC50 approximately 3-20 microg/mL). Thereby, revealing the ability of plant extracts to antagonize the oxidative stress via interference with NADPH oxidase metabolic pathway. These in vitro results coincide with the reduction in the glucose oxidase-induced paw edema in mice in the presence of ethyl acetate and methanol extracts (10, 50, and 100mg/kg, i.p.). Plant extracts (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) also significantly protected the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative tissue injury in rat liver. This was reflected by a approximately 60% decline in the levels of serum aminotransferase enzymes.


CONCLUSIONS
Aegiceras corniculatum extracts found to possess pronounced antioxidant effect that may be at least in part related to its anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities. This study provides a scientific basis for the ethnomedical claims that Aegiceras corniculatum is effective against inflammation and liver injury.
Roome
Talat
T
Pharmacology Section, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
Dar
Ahsana
A
Ali
Shamsher
S
Naqvi
Sabira
S
Choudhary
Muhammad Iqbal
MI
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005949:Glucose Oxidase / Q000633:toxicity; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D029623:Primulaceae; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D013481:Superoxides; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D005949:Glucose Oxidase; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate