Abstract
BackgroundSutherlandia frutescens (L.) R.Br. (SF) is a South African plant that is widely used to treat stress, infections, cancer, and chronic diseases, many of which involve oxidative stress. The aim of the study was to quantitatively assess the antioxidant potential of SF extracts in cell-free system as well as in cell lines.MethodsDried SF vegetative parts were extracted using six different solvents, and the extracts were assessed for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, total reducing power, iron chelating capacity, and free radical scavenging power, including, scavenging of hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anions, nitric oxide, and hydrogen peroxide. We further investigated the freeze-dried hot water extract of SF (SFE) to assess its effect against oxidative stress induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP), an organic peroxide. Three different cell lines: Chinese hamster ovary (CHO), human hepatoma (HepaRG), and human pulmonary alveolar carcinoma (A549) cells, were employed to determine cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and reduced to oxidized glutathione levels (GSH/GSSG).ResultsThe results indicated that: (1) SF extracts have significant antioxidant potential that is dependent upon the nature of the extraction solvent and (2) SFE protects against tBHP-induced oxidative stress in cells by scavenging ROS and preserving intracellular GSH/GSSG.ConclusionOxidative stress is implicated in a number of disorders, and due to the public’s concerns about synthetic antioxidants, various natural antioxidants are being explored for their therapeutic potential. Our findings support claims for S. frutescens being a promising adjunctive therapeutic for oxidative stress-related health problems.
Highlights
Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R.Br. (SF) is a South African plant that is widely used to treat stress, infections, cancer, and chronic diseases, many of which involve oxidative stress
All experiments were performed in quadruplicates, and the values reported are mean ± SD. (a: different from hot water extract, b: different from cold water extract, c: different from methanol extract, d: different from ethanol extract, e: different from acetone extract, p
Reducing power Reducing power is associated with antioxidant activity and may serve as an important index of the antioxidant potential
Summary
Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R.Br. (SF) is a South African plant that is widely used to treat stress, infections, cancer, and chronic diseases, many of which involve oxidative stress. (SF) is a South African plant that is widely used to treat stress, infections, cancer, and chronic diseases, many of which involve oxidative stress. One of the important effects of oxidative stress and free radical generation is decreased levels of cellular antioxidants. Sutherlandia frutescens (SF) has been traditionally used in Africa in the treatment of a wide variety of stress related ailments, including cancer, diabetes, infections, and HIV/AIDS [7]. Phytochemical investigations of this plant showed that it contains significant amounts of gamma amino butyric acid and L-canavanine, pinitol, flavonol glycosides, and triterpenoid saponins [7], that may be pharmacologically relevant
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