Antioxidant Activity and Hepatoprotective Potential ofPolyalthia longifoliaandCassia spectabilisLeaves against Paracetamol-Induced Liver Injury

Subramanion L Jothy,Yeng Chen,Azlan Aziz,Sreenivasan Sasidharan

doi:10.1155/2012/561284

Abstract

In the present study, in vitro antioxidant, free radical scavenging capacity, and hepatoprotective activity of methanol extracts from Polyalthia longifolia and Cassia spectabilis were evaluated using established in vitro models such as ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH•), hydroxyl radical (OH•), nitric oxide radical (NO•) scavenging, metal chelating, and antilipidperoxidation activities. Interestingly, all the extracts showed considerable in vitro antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities in a dose-dependent manner when compared to the standard antioxidant which verified the presence of strong antioxidant compound in leaf extracts tested. Phenolic and flavonoid content of these extracts is significantly correlated with antioxidant capacity. Since P. longifolia extract was exhibited better in vitro antioxidant activities, it was subjected for in vivo hepatoprotective activity in paracetamol-intoxicated mice. Therapy of P. longifolia showed the liver protective effect on biochemical and histopathological alterations. Moreover, histological studies also supported the biochemical finding, that is, the maximum improvement in the histoarchitecture of the liver. Results revealed that P. longifolia leaf extract could protect the liver against paracetamol-induced oxidative damage by possibly increasing the antioxidant protection mechanism in mice. Our findings indicated that P. longifolia and C. spectabilis have potential as good sources of natural antioxidant/antiaging compounds.

Highlights

Oxidation process is essential to many living organisms for the production of energy to fuel biological processes
hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) measures the ability of an antioxidant to quench free radicals by hydrogen donation, while electron transfer (ET) detects the ability of antioxidant to transfer one electron to reduce radicals, metals and carbonyls [29]
Data of this study provide direct evidence that P. longifolia is a potential antiaging candidate, which possesses good in vivo hepatoprotective activity

Summary

Introduction

Oxidation process is essential to many living organisms for the production of energy to fuel biological processes. Oxygen-centered free radicals and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are continuously produced in vivo may result in cell death and tissue damage. The oxidative stress cascade initiated by free radicals obtains stability through electron pairing with biological macromolecules such as proteins, lipids, and DNA in healthy human cells and causes damage in cell structures that include proteins and DNA along with lipid peroxidation. The formation of free radicals shortens cells life span and produces changes that resemble aging. This has contributed to a wide range of diseases including coronary heart diseases, aging, neurodegenerative disorders, arthritis, diabetes, inflammation, lung damage, and cancer [3].

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Results

Conclusion