title: Exploitation of the antioxidant potential of Geranium macrorrhizum (Geraniaceae): hepatoprotective and antimicrobial activities.
abstract: In this study we evaluated in vitro (radical scavenging) and in vivo (hepatoprotective effect) antioxidant activities and antimicrobial properties of the extracts of the above- and underground parts of Geranium macrorrhizum L. (Geraniaceae), an ethnopharmacologically renowned plant species. The antioxidant activity and total phenol and flavonoid contents of four different solvent extracts were evaluated by seven different methods. The methanol extracts, administered i.p. to rats (120-480 mg/kg), were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in a CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity model. The same extracts were tested for antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial and two fungal species. The administered methanol extracts with the highest antioxidant potential showed a significant dose-dependent hepatoprotective action against CCl4-induced liver damage in both decreasing the levels of liver transaminases and bilirubin and in reducing the extent of morphological malformations of the liver. The leaf methanol extract displayed a very strong antibacterial activity, especially against Staphylococcus aureus, with low minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations. These results justify the frequent use of this plant species in folk medicine. Besides the known astringent effect, one can expect that the observed antimicrobial activity against several human pathogens contributes to the wound healing properties of this plant.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Nis, Visegradska 33, 18000 Nis, Serbia. nikoradulovic@yahoo.com
authors: Niko S
authors: NS
authors: Radulović
authors: Milan B
authors: MB
authors: Stojković
authors: Snezana S
authors: SS
authors: Mitić
authors: Pavle J
authors: PJ
authors: Randjelović
authors: Ivan R
authors: IR
authors: Ilić
authors: Nikola M
authors: NM
authors: Stojanović
authors: Zorica Z
authors: ZZ
authors: Stojanović-Radić
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D031315:Geranium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019163:Reducing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D019163:Reducing Agents; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D001663:Bilirubin