Protective effect of medicinal plant extracts on biomarkers of oxidative stress in erythrocytes

Abstract

Plants are universally recognized as a vital part of the world’s natural heritage and up to 80% of the population rely on plants for their primary healthcare. Varieties of medicinal plants are recognized as a source of natural antioxidants that can protect from oxidative stress, thus playing an important role in chemoprevention of diseases. In the present investigation, 22 extracts from different parts of eight medicinal plants (Punica granatum Linn. (Punicaceae), Caesalpinia bonducella Flem. (Fabaceae), Hibiscus subdariffa Linn. [(Malvaceae), Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae), Garcinia indica Linn. (Clusiaceae), Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Euphorbiaceae), Momordica charantia Linn. (Cucurbitaceae), and Matricaria chamomilla Linn. (Asteraceae)] were screened for their protection against oxidative stress in erythrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide (2 mM) and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (0.01 mM). The effect was also compared with known antioxidants and flavonoids. Subjecting erythrocytes to oxidative stress by incubation with hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide caused a significant alteration in reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration compared to the control. Our results show that medicinal plant extracts protect erythrocytes from hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide induced oxidative stress; known antioxidant (vitamin C, E, and β-carotene) and flavonoid (quercetin) also showed a similar protective effect. Our observations may, in part, suggest the use of the spent/waste parts of medicinal plants. This could be an economically viable source of natural and potent antioxidants effective against complications arising from oxidative stress. The results may also improve the ethanopharmacological knowledge of medicinal plants.