Polyphenolic content and biochemical evaluation of fijk, alomo, osomo and oroki herbal mixtures in vitro

Abstract

BackgroundThe current upsurge in the use of herbal remedies coupled with loose regulation on public access to these products underscore research efforts to evaluate their biochemical effect, noting also that many of the herbal medicines lack scientific credence to support medicinal claims. ObjectiveDetermination of in vitro antioxidant capacity and membrane stabilizing potential of some herbal remedies (Fijk, Osomo, Alomo and Oroki) respectively. MethodologyRed blood cells (RBCs) were prepared from rat blood and exposed to the therapeutic doses of Fijk, Alomo, Osomo and Oroki herbals in order to estimate relative hemolysis. Distilled water treatment of RBCs was taken as 100% hemolysis. Subsequently, the hemolysates were used for the determination of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The herbals were further evaluated for their polyphenolic content, free radical scavenging activity as well as total antioxidant capacity. ResultsThe herbals showed low polyphenolic content, reduced antioxidant capacity and offered no protection against free radical-induced degradation of deoxyribose. On the other hand, the herbal mixtures caused appreciable hemolysis of RBCs as well as depleted the levels of rat erythrocyte G6PD, GSH and SOD. Also, the erythrocyte level of MDA was elevated (p < 0.05) by exposure to Oroki herbal mixture. ConclusionThe herbal mixtures have low polyphenolic content as well as poor antioxidant property. This may impede their capacity to protect against oxidative stress.