Antileptospiral, Antioxidant and DNA damaging properties of Eclipta alba and Phyllanthus amarus

Abstract

Leptospirosis is globally important disease affecting almost all mammals including human being. Several cases of this disease occur in India every year and studies have made to trace the epidemiology, pathology of this disease. It occurs in urban environments of industrialized and developing countries, as well as in rural regions worldwide. The disease is found mainly wherever human come in contact with the urine of infected animals and urine contaminated environment. The unsuccessful attempts to control this disease by chemo therapeutics prompted us to go for alternative control strategies. The present study comprises the use of traditional medicines to overcome the side effects caused by chemotherapeutics. In the present study an attempt has been made to use the herbal medicine to cure leptospirosis either by direct killing or by inhibiting the growth of leptospira. Inhibition of growth has been realized as unique approach to stop the growth. A methonolic and aqueous extract of whole plants of Eclipta alba and Phyllanthus amarus assessed to determine the mechanism(s) of its antileptospiral and antioxidant activity. In this study the antioxidant activity and radical scavenging activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of selected plant materials were evaluated against 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and 2,2’azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline- 6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) activity. DNA damaging studies on leptospira were also investigated. Finally, extracts were tested in different concentration in their respective solvent systems by Tube Dilution Technique (TDT) and Micro Dilution Technique (MDT) tests. The antileptospiral activity of Eclipta alba and P. amarus were studied by both tube dilution and micro dilution techniques and the results showed better inhibitory action against various serogroups of Leptospira. DPPH free radical scavenging effect of extract was compared with standard antioxidant ascorbic acid. IC 50 value was found 75µg/ml for extract and 45µg /ml for ascorbic acid and the methanol extracts of both plants had good activity and IC 50 value was found 55µg/ml and 30µg/ml in ABTS assay. The plant extracts were also found to be very effective against leptospirosis. The possible use of E.alba and P.amarus extracts to control Leptospirosis are discussed in the present studies.