title: Podophyllum hexandrum aqueous extract as a potential free radical scavenger.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the aqueous extract of Podophyllum hexandrum against free radical-mediated damage and also explore its anticancer activity. The extract exhibited significant activity in scavenging 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radicals, (•)OH radical-mediated DNA damage, and lipid peroxide production in rat liver microsomes. The extract was also tested for its reducing abilities. The activity of liver marker enzymes and antioxidant defense enzymes in rat liver homogenate was assessed in control and carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-treated animals. It was observed that CCl(4)-induced changes viz., increases in the activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, a decrease in reduced glutathione as well as decreases in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase. All these parameters showed reversal when pretreated with aqueous extract of P. hexandrum. Podophylotoxin and etoposide are the two known anticancer agents derived from P. hexandrum and interestingly the aqueous extract of P. hexandrum showed a typical DNA ladder formation in HL-60 cells confirming its role as an inducer of apoptosis. The results obtained suggest that the plant extract exhibits inhibition of and free radical production and lipid peroxidation, increase in antioxidant enzyme activities, revealing its antioxidant properties, and is also able to show potent anticancer activity as depicted by its ability to cause fragmentation of DNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
authors.forename: Showkat Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ganie
authors.forename: Shajrul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.forename: Abid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.forename: Rabiya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Majeed
authors.forename: Yasrib
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qurishi
authors.forename: Bilal A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Zargar
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.forename: Mohammad Afzal
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zargar
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D028141:Berberidaceae; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D010851:Picrates; C509544:Sinopodophyllum hexandrum extract; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase