In vitro and in silico study of antioxidant effect of Bergenia ciliata and Terminalia chebula against sodium oxalate induced oxidative stress

Abstract

Previous experimental evidence suggested that Bergenia ciliata (Saxifragaceae) and Terminalia chebula Retzius(Combretaceae) are effective against nephrolithiasis and have potential antioxidant activity. In this regard, hydro-methanolic extracts of B. ciliata rhizomes and T. chebula fruits were investigated for antioxidant potential against sodium oxalate induced oxidative imbalance in the kidney of female Wistar rats. We also performed molecular docking studies of all the reported phenolic compounds of both the plants to evaluate its interaction with the active site of oxalate binding protein (OBP). In summary, our findings showed that sodium oxalate caused significant increase in lipid peroxidation with concurrent decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase as well as in total reduced glutathione content in a concentration-dependent manner. The hydro-alcoholic extracts, however, when co-administered with sodium oxalate resulted in significant protection with maximum percent protection was achieved by B. ciliata. Thereafter, daucosterol showed best binding efficiency with OBP. However, further work on the purification of isolated bioactive components and pharmacological testing can reveal the therapeutic potential of the plant.