Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Abrus precatorius leaf extracts - an in vitro study

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of traditional medicine at the primary health care level is widespread and plant-based treatments are being recommended for curing various diseases by traditional medical practitioners all over the world. The phytochemicals present in the fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants are getting attention day-by-day for their active role in the prevention of several human diseases. Abrus precatorius is a widely distributed tropical medicinal plant with several therapeutic properties. Therefore in the present study, A. precatorius leaf extracts were examined for their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties in vitro in order to discover resources for new lead structures or to improve the traditional medicine.MethodsIn this study, antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of the different leaf extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water) from A. precatorius were investigated along with the quantification of the polyphenol and flavonoid contents. The ability of deactivating free radicals was extensively investigated with in vitro biochemical methods like DPPH•, •OH, NO, SO2- scavenging assays and inhibition capability of Fe(II)-induced lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, antiproliferative activities using different human cancer cell lines and primary cell line was carried out by MTT method.ResultsTotal phenolic content and total flavonoid content of the extracts were found in the range of 1.65 ± 0.22 to 25.48 ± 0.62 GAE mg/g dw and 6.20 ± 0.41 to 17.16 ± 1.04 QE mg/g dw respectively. The experimental results further revealed that A. precatorius extracts showed strong antiradical properties, capable to chelate Fe2+ and possess good inhibition ability of lipid peroxidation. In addition, as a first step towards the identification of phytoconstituents endowed with potent chemopreventive activities, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of A. precatorius extracts on the proliferation of four different human tumour cell lines such as human colon adenocarcinoma cells (Colo-205), human retinoblastoma cancer cells (Y79), human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and Leukemia cells (SupT1). Ethanol extract (APA) and ethyl acetate extract (APE) of A. precatorius had apparent capabilities of inhibiting the survival of tested human cancer cell lines. Moreover, it was observed that the A. precatorius extracts did not inhibit the growth of mice peritoneal macrophages, thus confirming that plants extracts are selective against the cancer cell lines.ConclusionThis work provides a scientific support for the high antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of this plant and thus it may find potential applications in the treatment of the diseases caused by ROS. Further studies are needed to confirm in vivo anti-tumorgenicity and subsequent chemical characterization of the active molecule(s).

Pimpinella alpina Molk Administration is Capable of Increasing Antioxidant and Decreasing Prooxidant Level following UVB Irradiation

“…ROO is a chemical substance constituting a final result of chain reaction between OH • and unsaturated fatty acid, further propagates chain reaction in lipids, which in turn is reacted back with unsaturated fatty acid membrane to form MDA 38 . Therefore, antioxidants which are capable of scavenging peroxyl radicals could prevent lipid peroxidation.…”

In vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Artemisia nilagirica Extracts

“…They have the potential to quench ROS by donating hydrogen atom or electrons, chelating transitional metal ions, activation of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and also inhibiting the oxidising entities. However, these defensive mechanisms are sometimes insufficient to prevent the damage entirely due to the various pathological processes, therefore, antioxidant supplements are vital to combat oxidative damage [5] . Investigations on medicinal plants have reclaimed significance in the modern times due to their increasing comprehensive biological properties and emerging recognition of their origin, function and structural diversity [6] .…”

“…Healthy Wister albino rats (250 g) were sacrificed (procedure was reviewed and approved by the University of Hyderabad, School of Life Sciences' Animal Ethics Committee) and liver was perfused with 0.15 M KCl, homogenate was centrifuged at 800 g for 15 min at 4° and the supernatant was used for thiobarbituric acid assay [5] .…”

“…The scavenging activity of different extracts of A. nilagirica (40-400 μg/ml) on hydroxyl radical activity was measured according to the previously described method [5] . The colour intensity formed was measured spectrophotometrically at λ 532 nm against the blank sample.…”

“…The quantification of phytoconstituents in different solvent extracts of A. nilagirica were carried out using standard quantitative methods as described previously [5,[18][19][20] . The components analysed for phytochemicals were total phenolics, flavonoids, triterpenoids, tannins and alkaloids.…”