Pistacia chinensis: Strong antioxidant and potent testicular toxicity amelioration agent.

Abstract

To evaluate invitro and invivo antioxidant potency of Pistacia chinensis (P.chinensis) bark and leaves extracts along with its protective role against CCl4 induced toxicity in testis of the rat. Various invitro models such as DPPH, ABTS, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, hydroxyl and nitric oxide scavenging activities, anti-lipid peroxidation activity, phospho-molybdenum activity, β carotene bleaching assay was used for analysis of antioxidant potential. Experimental groups for invivo study were: Group Ⅰ (control) untreated, Group Ⅱ (Vehicle control), Group Ⅲ (1mL/kg b.w 30% CCl4), Group Ⅳ (1mL/kg b.w CCl4+Silymarin), Group Ⅴ (200mg/kg b.w PCBE+CCl4), Group Ⅵ (400mg/kg b.w PCBE+CCl4) and Group Ⅶ (400mg/kg b.w PCBE alone). Invitro antioxidant assays displayed significant results and the highest activity was not specified to a specific extract. However, ethyl acetate extract of bark (PCBE) showed highest results in most of the antioxidant assays i.e. beta-carotene bleaching, hydroxyl radical scavenging, ABTS, lipid peroxidation and superoxide radical scavenging activity. On this base, this fraction was selected for invivo antioxidant experiment. Testis tissues were analyzed to observe the protective effects of PCBE on antioxidant enzymes; catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and quinone reductase activities and glutathione (GSH) as well as nitrite content. Profile of plasma testosterone was also compared to various treatments. Observation suggests a protective role of P.chinensis against CCl4 induced toxicity. It is concluded that some bioactive antioxidants of P.chinensis bark might be a good source to isolate the potent antioxidant components.