Evaluation of antioxidant activity of Ammania baccifera (L.) whole plant extract in rats

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study the effect of antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract of whole plant of Ammania baccifera, Linn (EEAB). MethodsTo investigate antioxidant activity of EEAB against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced erythrocyte damage in rats, intraperitoneal administration of the crude extracts (600 or 800 mg/kg body weight/day) with CCl4 (1 mL/kg of body weight) was injected into rats for alternate days of two weeks. The loss of functional integrity and membrane lipid alteration in red blood cells induced by oxidative stress was observed. ResultsEEAB inhibited the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products in the plasma as well as maintained the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. The extracts further had the ability to decrease the membrane fluidity induced by CCl4. ConclusionsIt can therefore be concluded that the whole plant of Ammania baccifera Linn possesses erythrocyte protective activity against drug induced oxidative stress. These findings also provide a rationale for further studies on isolation of active principles and its pharmacological evaluation.