In-vitro and in-vivo Antioxidant Activity of the Butanolic Extract from the Stem of Ephedra alte

Abstract

Previous studies indicated that the extracts from different Ephedra species have antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities. However, none of the published report described the phytochemical components and the antioxidant capacities of Ephedra alte belonging to the family Ephedraceae. To evaluate the in-vitro and in-vivo antioxidant activities of the butanolic extract from stems of Ephedra alte from northern Jordan. Graded concentrations of butanolic extracts from stems of E. alte plant were subjected to four different in-vitro antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, ferrous ion chelating and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities). The in-vivo effects of two different doses of the extract (200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, orally for 12 days) on the activities of serum and liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured in mice. Strong in-vitro antioxidant activities in a concentration-dependent manner were recorded. As well, significant increases in both liver and serum CAT enzyme activity and in serum SOD activity were observed in mice treated for 12 days with the extract. These results suggested that the butanolic extract from stems of exhibited significant in-vitro and in-vivo antioxidant activities, supporting the use of E. alte as an important source of natural antioxidants.