Antioxidant effect of aqueous extract of four plants with therapeutic potential on gynecological diseases; Semen persicae, Leonurus cardiaca, Hedyotis diffusa, and Curcuma zedoaria

Abstract

BackgroundLittle information is available concerning antioxidant effects of plant teas (water boiled) which are used more commonly in traditional Chinese medicine than other extracts. Thus, we addressed this issue by evaluating the ability of teas from four different plants with therapeutic potential on gynecological diseases.MethodsThe aqueous extracts of Semen persicae, Leonurus cardiaca, Hedyotis diffusa, and Curcuma zedoaria rhizome were prepared and then their effects on copper-induced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) oxidation were evaluated by spectrophotometric method. Density gradient ultracentrifugation method was recruited to isolate LDL-C from healthy individuals.ResultsOur results showed that adding 10, 20, and 30 µl S. persicae could increase the lag phase duration of LDL-C oxidation compared with control reaction 12, 21, and 33%, respectively. The most effective delay (87%) was observed when 30 µl H. diffusa was added to the reaction. In cases of L. cardiaca and C. zedoaria, we found no significant influence on the lag phase duration (p > 0.05). Moreover, our findings about starting point of the decomposition phase were almost in parallel with the lag phase results, as 30 µl of S. persicae or H. diffusa teas could significantly increase the initiation time of decomposition (p < 0.05).ConclusionsIn conclusion our results showed that both S. persicae and H. diffusa teas and not L. cardiaca and C. zedoaria could have medicinal therapeutic effects partly through direct oxidation prevention.

Natural Products for Drug Discovery in the 21st Century: Innovations for Novel Drug Discovery

“…However, the past few decades have seen an increase in the use of medicinal plants for health promotion and treatment of diseases in many countries including developed countries [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Indeed, many medicinal plant extracts are now used as prescription drugs in numerous developed countries such as the UK, Germany, China and France [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Advances in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering: Innovation and Transformation of Medicine

“…The last 5 years has seen an increase in the use of medicinal plants for health promotion and treatment of diseases in developed countries [ 304 , 305 ]. Indeed, many medicinal plant extracts are now used as prescription drugs in many developed countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France [ 306 , 307 ]. Our data show that resveratrol treatment upregulates collagen type II in chondrocytes and can increase chondrocyte viability [ 308 ].…”

Leonurus cardiaca L. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010)

“…The extract showed a relatively good antioxidant potential (>60% DPPH ∙ scavenging activity at 16 mg/ml, >80% NO scavenging activity at 10 mg/ml, and >85% metal chelating activity at 10 mg/ml) for a phytochemical composition of 12.13 ± 0.12 mg GAE/g dry weight (total phenolics), 9.86 ± 0.15 mg QE/g dw (total flavonoids), and 2.01 ± 0.01 mg CAE/g dw (hydroxycinnamic acids). The study of Ji et al [53] on the antioxidant effect of plants with therapeutic potential on gynecological diseases revealed no significant influence on the lag phase duration of copper-induced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) oxidation, the authors suggesting as main reason for the lack of antioxidant activity the solvent used for extraction. Ziyatdinova et al [54] proposed an alternative method for the evaluation of the antioxidant activity (determined as DPPH ∙ inhibition using differential pulse voltammetry) and compared the values obtained for several medicinal plants with those obtained spectrophotometrically.…”