ABSTRACT
The fruits of the Piper cubeba plant were chosen and studied for antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity. The antioxidant potential of the ethanol extract was examined using a 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, reducing power, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity. The extract had significant dose-dependent antioxidant activity in all in vitro experiments. Hepatoprotective activity of the extract was evaluated in rat model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage. CCl4 significantly altered serum marker enzymes and total protein. The ethanol extract of Piper cubeba attenuated CCl4 induced serum marker enzymes and total protein. Histology of liver sections of the animals treated with the extracts showed the presence of normal hepatic cords, absence of necrosis and fatty infiltration which further evidence the hepatoprotective activity.
ABSTRACT
Wedelolactone possesses a wide range of biological activities and is used for the treatment of hepatitis, cirrhosis. A simple HPTLC method has been developed for the quantification of wedelolactone. The samples were dissolved in methanol and linear ascending development was carried out in twin trough glass chamber saturated with mobile phase consisting of toluene: ethyl acetate: acetone: formic acid (6:2:1:1v/v/v/v). Spectrodensitometric scanning was performed by TLC scanner III (CAMAG) in absorbance mode at the wavelength of 351nm.The system was found to give compact spots for wedelolactone (Rf value of 0.39 ± 0.03). The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r2 = 0.9963 in the concentration range 400-800 ng/spot with respect to peak area. According to the ICH guidelines the method was validated for accuracy, precision, recovery, and robustness. The wedelolactone content quantified from herbal formulations was found well within limits. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the method is reproducible and selective for the estimation of wedelolactone.