Abstract
BackgroundRadix Trichosanthis (RT), the dry root tuber of Trichosanthis kirilowii Maxim (Cucurbitaceae), is a traditional Chinese medicine. Although a wide range of saponin pharmacological properties has been identified, to our knowledge, this may be the first report to investigate the crude saponins from RT. The purpose of this study was to delineate the antioxidant activity both in vitro and in vivo by using ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol, and the mixture of n-butanol and EtOAc fractions.MethodsIn vitro antioxidant activity was detected by using DPPH free radical, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and reducing power assays. After pretreatment with different fractions saponins at 2 mg/kg/d and 3 mg/kg/d of crude drug, respectively, an established CCl4 induced acute cytotoxicity model was used to evaluate the in vivo antioxidant potential by detection of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels.ResultsThe in vitro assay showed that the antioxidant activity of all the three fractions was promising. The reducing power of the EtOAc and the mixture of n-butanol and EtOAc extracts increased in a dose dependent manner. However, both the n-butanol and the mixture of n-butanol and EtOAc fractions in low dose exhibited in a time dependent manner with prolonged reaction time. As for hydrogen peroxide scavenging capability, the n-butanol fraction mainly demonstrated a time dependent manner, whereas EtOAc fraction showed a dose dependent manner. However, in case of in vivo assay, an increase of SOD and T-AOC and decrease of MDA and LDH levels were only observed in n-butanol (2 mg/kg/d of crude drug) extracts pretreatment group.ConclusionsRT saponins in n-butanol fraction might be a potential antioxidant candidate, as CCl4-induced oxidative stress has been found to be alleviated, which may be associated with the time dependent manner of n-butanol saponins in a low dose. Further studies will be needed to investigate the active individual components in n-butanol extract, in vivo antioxidant activities and antioxidant mechanisms.
Highlights
Radix Trichosanthis (RT), the dry root tuber of Trichosanthis kirilowii Maxim (Cucurbitaceae), is a traditional Chinese medicine
Total saponin content Being widely distributed amongst plants, saponins have long been regarded as phytochemical material to protect plant against pathogens
No difference was observed between vitamin C group and the three RT saponin extracts at 1 mg/ml concentration (P > 0.05) when analysed statistically
Summary
Radix Trichosanthis (RT), the dry root tuber of Trichosanthis kirilowii Maxim (Cucurbitaceae), is a traditional Chinese medicine. Overload of free radicals may, lead to oxidative damage, it is of great importance for either exogenous or endogenous antioxidants to scavenge the abundant free radicals to protect cellular DNA, proteins and lipid membranes. Even though endogenous antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione Stransferase (GSH), and glutathione reductase (GR), are more powerful free radical scavengers than those from diet, under pathological conditions, much more of free radical is beyond the capacity of endogenous antioxidants [4]. Carbon tetrachloride, being converted to trichloromethyl radical (CCl3· ) and trichloromethyl peroxy radical (CCl3OO·) by cytochrome P450 enzyme system in liver, is a well used chemical to induce in vivo oxidative stress [5]. Previous reports showed that the formed free radicals may eventually reduce antioxidant enzyme and antioxidant substrates to induce oxidative liver stress [6]. It is urgent to explore of antioxidant agents both in food industry and in prevention medicine to reduce the risk of toxicity [7]
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