Hepatoprotective activity of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle Ex. Benth extract against alcohol cytotoxicity in mouse liver slice culture

Abstract

Kutki or Picrorhiza kurroa is a herbal medicinal plant belonging to Scrophulariaceae family and is found in the Himalayan region in India. This herb has been traditionally used in treating liver disorders. The antioxidant properties of P. kurroa were evaluated in vitro using different radical scavenging assays. Furthermore, liver slice culture system was used to test the antioxidant activity of this extract and ethanol was used as a hepatotoxin to generate oxidative stress. Hepatotoxicity was quantified in terms of release of intracellular marker enzymes lactate dehydrogenase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase. Oxidative stress induced by ethanol and its modulation in the presence of P. kurroa extract was tested by estimating the levels of antioxidant enzymes like catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase, and of antioxidant molecules like uric acid and reduced glutathione that were quantitated along with lipid peroxidation. Our results clearly demonstrate that aqueous extract of P. kurroa with high antioxidant activity, as demonstrated using different radical scavenging assays, was effective in suppressing the deleterious effects of ethanol. Addition of P. kurroa aqueous extract along with ethanol restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes and significantly reduced lipid peroxidation.

Total phenolic, flavonoid contents, in-vitro antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective effect of aqueous leaf extract of Atalantia ceylanica

“…A similar study carried out by Sinha et al . [ 39 ], on hepatoprotective activity of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle Ex. Benth aqueous root extract (Family: Scrophulariaceae) using mouse liver slice culture, the authors concluded that the high antioxidant activity of this plant is responsible for the suppression of alcohol induced toxicity.…”

Antioxidant Functionality in Plants and Plant Sourced Biomaterials

“…Present article briefly reviews antioxidants, plant (land and marine) based biomaterials, antioxidant functionalities of these biomaterials, applications in food science/technology and their recent developments. Significant work has already been done on antioxidants and their role in keeping the oxidative stress low and [93,89] Glycyrrhiza glabra Scavenging abilities, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial [94,95] Picrorhiza kurroa Reduceslipid peroxidation, antioxidant, antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory activities [96,97] Psoralea corylifolia Treatment of various skin diseases, laxative, aphrodisiac, anthelminitic, diuretic and diaphoretic in febrile conditions [98,99] Emblica officinalis Antiatherogenic, antitussive, immunemodulator [100,101] Withania somnifera Rejuvenating effect, promotes growth in children, anti-aging [91] Glycerrhiza glabra Therapeutic and antioxidant [91] Mangifera indica Protection against oxygen-derived species, protection from oxidative stress-related diseases [102,103] Curcuma longa Cytotoxicity, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, anticancer [104,105] Momordica charantia Blood glucose level reliever, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antihepatotoxic and antiulcerogenic activities [106,107] preventing various diseases and combining them with plant based biomaterials for applications such as food packaging, edible bio-films etc.. TCM and Ayurvedic methods reveals that our ancestors might be knowing indirectly about these compounds (i.e. antioxidants)although modern experimentation and characterization tools were not available.…”

Das therapeutische Potenzial von Picrorhiza kurroa bei der Behandlung von Lebererkrankungen

“…Der Versuch zeigte, dass die Extrakte die ungünstige Lipidperoxidation in einem gewissen Maß hemmen und die gestörte Aktivität der antioxidativen Enzyme CAT, GPx und SOD regulieren. Daher kann der Schluss gezogen werden, dass die Verringerung der toxischen Wirkung von Alkohol u. a. aus der hohen antioxidativen Aktivität des Pflanzenstoffes resultiert 20 .…”