title: Nerium indicum leaf alleviates iron-induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nerium indicum Mill. (Apocynaceae) was reported for its efficient in vitro antioxidant and iron-chelating properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study demonstrates the effect of 70% methanol extract of N. indicum leaf (NIME) towards in vitro DNA protection and ameliorating iron-overload-induced liver damage in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phytochemical and HPLC analyses were carried out to standardize the extract and the effect of Fe(2+)-mediated pUC18 DNA cessation was studied. Thirty-six Swiss Albino mice were divided into six groups of blank, negative control (iron overload only), and iron-overloaded mice receiving 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg b.w. doses of NIME and desirox (20 mg/kg b.w.). The biochemical markers of hepatic damage, various liver and serum parameters, and reductive release of ferritin iron were studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of different phytocomponents was revealed from phytochemical and HPLC analyses. A substantial supercoiled DNA protection, with [P]50 of 70.33 ± 0.32 µg, was observed. NIME (200 mg/kg b.w.) significantly normalized the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin by 126.27, 125.25, 188.48, and 45.47%, respectively. NIME (200 mg/kg b.w.) was shown to alleviate the reduced levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and non-enzymatic-reduced glutathione, by 48.95, 35.9, 35.42, and 13.22%, respectively. NIME also lowered raised levels of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, hydroxyproline, and liver iron by 32.28, 64.58, 136.81, and 83.55%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the active substances present in NIME may be capable of lessening iron overload-induced toxicity, and possibly be a useful drug for iron-overloaded diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute , Kolkata, West Bengal , India.
authors.forename: Nikhil Baban
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Ghate
authors.forename: Dipankar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
authors.forename: Sourav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panja
authors.forename: Nripendranath
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mandal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007505:Iron-Dextran Complex / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D030007:Nerium; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D007505:Iron-Dextran Complex
keywords: DNA protection; hepatoprotection; liver iron; phytochemicals; serum enzymes