Antioxidant, genotoxic and antigenotoxic activities of daphne gnidium leaf extracts

Abstract

BackgroundPlants play a significant role in maintaining human health and improving the quality of human life. They serve humans well as valuable components of food, as well as in cosmetics, dyes, and medicines. In fact, many plant extracts prepared from plants have been shown to exert biological activity in vitro and in vivo. The present study explored antioxidant and antigenotoxic effects of Daphne gnidium leaf extracts.MethodsThe genotoxic potential of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and total oligomer flavonoid (TOF) enriched extracts from leaves of Daphne gnidium, was assessed using Escherichia coli PQ37. Likewise, the antigenotoxicity of the same extracts was tested using the “SOS chromotest test”. Antioxidant activities were studied using non enzymatic and enzymatic method: NBT/Riboflavine and xantine oxidase.ResultsNone of the different extracts produced a genotoxic effect, except TOF extract at the lowest tested dose. Our results showed that D. gnidium leaf extracts possess an antigenotoxic effect against the nitrofurantoin a mutagen of reference. Ethyl acetate and TOF extracts were the most effective in inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity. While, methanol extract was the most potent superoxide scavenger when tested with the NBT/Riboflavine assay.ConclusionsThe present study has demonstrated that D. gnidium leaf extract possess antioxidant and antigenotoxic effects. These activities could be ascribed to compounds like polyphenols and flavonoid. Further studies are required to isolate the active molecules.

Quantification of the Antioxidant Activity of Plant Extracts: Analysis of Sensitivity and Hierarchization Based on the Method Used

“…Specifically, the three species selected for this study are rich in essential oils composed mainly of monoterpenes [20,[30][31][32][33]. Daphne gnidium species was selected for its low, although major, concentration of flavonoids [34]. Ruscus aculeatus and Phyllirrea angustifolia species are characterized by their very low content of total phenols [20,35].…”

Assessment of the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of crude extracts and fractions of Schwartzia brasiliensis (Choisy) Bedell ex Giraldo-Caas

“…This protective effect has already been observed elsewhere, using the same experimental approach, with extracts of Cleome rosea (Simões et al, 2006), Daphne gnidium (Chaabane et al, 2012) and Nitraria retusa (Boubaker et al, 2013). The chromatograms obtained from the methanol extract and aqueous fraction of stems, using the method proposed, were insufficient to determine their constituents accurately.…”

“…The antigenotoxic effect of S. brasiliensis leaves may be related to their chemical constituents. Flavonoids are described as having antioxidant (Brunetti et al, 2013;Procházková et al, 2011;Romano et al, 2013) and antigenotoxic activities (Boubaker et al, 2013;Chaabane et al, 2012). In addition, flavonoids have antineoplastic effects and can also protect against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (Obrenovich et al, 2010;Obrenovich et al, 2011;Simões et al, 2006).…”

Plants from The Genus Daphne: A Review of its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Biological and Pharmacological Activity

“…However, the use of this plant is considered dangerous because of certain toxic effects. Its use can cause headache, paleness, shivers, swelling of the lips and mouth, convulsions, and even death (73). The analysis of the methanol extracts of the branches has shown that the extract has quite good antimicrobial activity, especially against Bacillus lentus and Escherichia coli bacteria.…”