Pharmacological Profile of Diospyros melanoxylon Methanolic Extract

Abstract

Present study was aimed to investigate the in-vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and in-vivo nephroprotective activity novel herbal extracts. Initially the test extracts were evaluated for antioxidant potential by performing the DPPH assay. Few extracts displayed potent antioxidant activity by DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Among all the extracts Methanolic extracts of Diospyros melanoxylon was found to be more potent for antioxidant potential. Presence of phenols and flavonoid in the test extracts might be contributed to their potent antioxidant activity. The test extracts were also evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan induced paw edema model. RX- has shown moderate anti-inflammatory activity. Based on preliminary in-vitro antioxidant activity results Diospyros melanoxylon was selected for further to evaluate Nephro-protective activity against Potassium dichromate induced model. Acute oral toxicity test was performed to find out the safe dose of test extract before going to in vivo evaluation (Potassium Dichromate induced nephrotoxicity). Acute toxicity study of test extract was conducted in wistar rats to find the Maximum tolerated dose. The test extract did not show any toxicity and mortality symptoms during the study at the different doses studied. The Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of the test extract was found to be >2000 mg/kg in rats. In-vivo nephroprotective activity was conducted in wistar rats by Potassium dichromate-induced nephrotoxicity model. During the study period test extract (250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg) were administered by oral route for the period of 7 days followed by potassium dichromate administration (15 mg/kg). At the end of the study blood samples were collected and used for estimation of kidney biochemical parameters. Results showed that significant increase was observed in biochemical parameters (BUN, CR) in PDC group compared to vehicle control. The test extract displayed significant reduction in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine at the dose of 500 mg/kg. Kidney tissue samples were collected on termination day of all rats and subjected for measurement of antioxidant enzymes and lipid Peroxidation to check the organ toxicity. Significant increase in lipid Peroxidation and decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels were observed in PDC control whereas test extract prevented the kidney toxicity by decreasing TBARS production and normalization of antioxidant defense enzymes at the doses studied. Gain in body weight and organ weight compared to PD control also revealed the Nephroprotective effect of D. melanoxylon extract at both the doses. All the data showed that both biochemical antioxidant parameters correlated together and supported the protective effect of the Herbal extract (D. melanoxylon) against potassium dichromate induced nephrotoxicity.