The possible protective effect of Solanum nigrum fruit extract (SNFEt) was investigated for its antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity against ethanol-induced toxicity in rats. The experimental animals were intoxicated with 20% ethanol (7.9 g/kg/day) for 30 days via gastric intubation. SNFEt was administered at the dose of 250 mg/kg body weight along with the daily dose of ethanol for 30 days. From the result it was observed that ethanol-induced rats showed a significant elevation in the levels of Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), which lowered the antioxidant defense systems, such as, reduced glutathione (GSH) and vitamins C and E, when compared to the controls. In the lipid profiles, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), free fatty acids (FFA), and phospholipids were significantly elevated in the ethanol-induced group, whereas, the high density lipoproteins (HDL) were found to be reduced in the plasma, and the phospholipid levels were significantly decreased in the tissues. Supplementation of SNFEt improved the antioxidant status by decreasing the levels of TBARS and altering the lipid profiles to near normal. These activities were also compared to the standard drug silymarin (25 mg/kg body weight). Thus the findings of the present study indicated a significant antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity of Solanum nigrum fruits, which offered protection against ethanol-induced toxicity.
Caralluma flava is a perennial, succulent edible plant distributed in the hillsides of the United Arab Emirates. In order to validate its use in the traditional system as an edible and medicinal source, we evaluated the antioxidant and in vitro free-radical-scavenging properties of its ethanol extract. The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated in vitro by 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6sulfonic acid (ABTS + ), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays. The antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidant contents (total reduced glutathione, and Vitamin E and Vitamin C) in the extracts were also determined. The total phenolics content of the plant extract was 10.14 mg/g and the flavonoid content was 4.13 mg/g. The results showed a positive linear correlation between these phytochemicals and the free-radical-scavenging activities. The C. flava extract exhibited significant radical-scavenging properties in the ABTS( + ), DPPH( ), hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide radical assays. The study revealed that C. flava could be considered an excellent source of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. The results indicate that the plant extract has potent free-radical-scavenging activity and ability to prevent radical chain reactions. Based on the results obtained, C. flava seems to be a very promising species for further investigation in order to identify the compounds responsible for its biological activity.
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