Volatile compounds and antioxidant activity of the aromatic herb Anethum graveolens

Anethum graveolens L. [dill] [Apiaceae] is one of the most popular culinary herbs in the world. Dill has been cultivated since ancient times, and the use of this plant for medicinal and consumption purposes has been recorded dating back to the Greek and Egyptian civilizations. Dill is widely used to give flavor to food. The aim of this work was to assess the chemical composition of the volatile compounds in dill as well as their hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activity against free radicals generated by paracetamol. The chemical composition of the volatile compounds of dill was assessed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Four groups of rats were used [the normal control group, the A. graveolens-supplemented group, the paracetamol-intoxicated group, and the A. graveolens-protected group] for studying the effect of plant infusion on panadol [paracetamol]-induced free radicals and hepatotoxicity. Plasma total antioxidant capacity, plasma catalase, cellular glutathione peroxidase, plasma total protein, albumin, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphate, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin levels were determined. In addition, kidney functions [plasma urea and creatinine] and histopathological and histochemical changes in the liver were investigated. The phytochemical results identified volatile components 7-alpha-hydroxy manool [24.43%], l-carvone [14.28%], limonene [13.9%], epi-alpha-bisabolol [6.81%], alpha-terpinene [5.44%], and alpha-phellandrene [4.63%] as the main constituents. p-Cymene [2.13%], sabinene [1.98], and alpha-pinene [1.43%] were determined as the minor constituents. The biochemical results showed that a mega dose of paracetamol induced the production of free radicals, which caused damage to hepatocytes and nephrocytes in rats. The aqueous extract of dill revealed high antioxidant properties and acted as an extracellular neutralizer of free radicals. Histopathological and histochemical observations showed severe damage in the liver. Supplementation with dill in paracetamol-intoxicated rats attenuated the damage to the liver. The present study revealed that A. graveolens has antihepatotoxic properties that could minimize the deleterious effects generated by hepatotoxin paracetamol, and therefore it can be used as a potent antihepatotoxic agent

Effect of Egyptian sage extract on antioxidant activity, hypercholesterolemia and bone calcification in the tibia of rats

Osteoporosis [major public health problem in the aging society] has been linked with arteriosclerotic vascular diseases characterized by hypercholesterolemia. Nutrition may appear as an alternative strategy for optimizing health skeleton instead of traditional therapies by hormone replacement treatment which increases the risk of heart disease and cancers. Phytochemicals with antioxidative properties that may act against hypercholesterolemia and positive in the prevention of osteoporosis. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of sage leaves aqueous extract on hypercholesterolemia and bone calcification in rats. Sage leaves aqueous extract was prepared by infusion of leaves in hot water, separation of its volatiles and identification using GC/MS and evaluation the radical scavenging activity of sage aqueous extract by ESR. Three groups of rats were used, group 1 to serve as control, group 2 was fed on diet rich with cholesterol and the third group was fed on diet rich in cholesterol and treated with sage leaves aqueous extract. The experiment continued for 6 weeks. The plasma total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], HDL-C, LDL-C, urea, creatinine, blood hemoglobin, and enzymes activities of transaminases [ALT and AST] were determined. Different minerals [calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and Ca/P] were assayed spectrophotometrically using atomic absorption. The GC/MS analysis showed that 1,8-cineol [eucalyptol] [22.34%], thujone [16.31%], camphor [16.9%], humulene [7.53%], alpha pinene [5.77%], borneol [4.59%], p-menthol [4.8%], camphene [4.31%] and bornyl acetate [3.16%] were the main volatile compounds of the sage leaves aqueous extract. Sage volatile extract showed significant antioxidant activity in vitro using ESR assay. Daily administration of sage leaves aqueous extract for 6 weeks to Swiss albino rats as drinking water, caused significant declines in the blood levels of triglycerides [TG] [30%], total cholesterol [TC] [10.3%], LDL-C [45%] and increase of HDL-C [81%] and tibial calcium [20%]. This study demonstrates one possible mechanism by which sage leaves aqueous extract which rich in phenolic substances can improve the bone calcification, and acting as hypocholesterolemic agent

Investigation of the chemical composition, antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic effect of the Egyptian guava leaves volatiles

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder with many complications which has associated with oxidative stress. The present work aimed to study the protective effect of the Egyptian guava [Psidium guajava L.] leaves aqueous extract on streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic rats and its complementary effects. The volatile compounds of guava leaves aqueous extract were isolated and analyzed by using GC and GC/MS. The total phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity were done by Folin-Ciocalteu reaction and thiobarbituric acid [TBA] assay, respectively. Four groups of rats [six rats each] used in this study [control, guava extract supplemented, STZ-diabetic, and protected groups]. Serum glucose level was determine as well as liver function, kidney function, lipid profile, activities of some antioxidant enzymes, blood hemoglobin, and histopathological changes in the liver, kidney and pancreas were investigated. Fifty six components were identified using GC and GC/MS. The main chemical compounds in guava leaves volatile oils were; alpha-pinene [11.77%], epi-alpha-bisabolol [10.85%], 1, 8-cineol [9.22%], 1-epi cubenol [8.56%], globulol [5.88%], thujone [5.35%], hexenal [5.03%] and terpipineol [4.35%]. The Egyptian guava volatile extract exhibited a high antioxidant activity in vitro. Also, the results revealed that administration of aqueous guava extract [1gm/dl] to streptozotocin [STZ] induced diabetic rats for 4 weeks as their only source of fluid, enhanced most of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes activity as glutathione reductase [GR], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and total antioxidant capacity [TAC] and produced a pronounced hypoglycemic effect as well as the amelioration of most of the studied biochemical parameters in STZ-induced diabetic rats, which confirmed by histo-pathological examination of different body organs, The potential antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of guava leaves extract, respectively, are attributed to the presence of relatively high percentage of phenolic compounds [456 +/- 10.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/L] and other active volatile compounds with high antioxidant activity. Egyptian guava aqueous extract is effective in controlling hyperglycemia, reducing diabetic complications arising due to oxidative stress in diabetic rats, improve lipid metabolism as well as amelioration of the associated biochemical parameters

Egyptian artichoke volatile compounds: protect against lead-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in male rats

Lead is a widely used chemical for the preparation of a number of industry and household-based products. The toxicity of lead compounds, like all other heavy metals, has been implicated in the etiology of different disorders in humans. The present study was designed to investigate the potential protective effect of Egyptian artichoke against the hepatorenal toxicity of lead in male albino rats. Twenty three compounds were identified as volatile compounds of artichoke with benzeneacetaldehyde and selinene as major constituents, 19.97% and 16.80% respectively. Four groups of rats were used, group 1 to serve as control, group 2 intraperitoneal injected with lead acetate [20 mg/kg B.W], group 3 lead injected rats given artichoke head extract with drinking water [10 g/1 liter] and group 4 lead injected rats given artichoke leaves extract. The experiment continued for 30 days. The plasma total protein, cholesterol, urea and creatinein were determined. The activities of each of Alanine aminotansferase [ALT] aspartate amino transferase [AST], gamma-glutamyltransferase [gamma-GT] were followed. The level of plasma oxidation products of malondialdehyde was estimated. The histopathological changes were examined. Artichoke [leaves or head] co-treatment to the lead - administered rats attenuated the increase of ALT, AST, gamma-GT activities. Also the change in cholesterol, urea, creatinine and protein levels was less marked. The values reported were near to normal. In addition, the morphological damage in the liver and kidney was reduced and the tissues appeared like those of controls. The present study suggests that, because the presence of volatile constituents with antioxidative properties, artichoke may be useful in combating damaging effect of lead toxicity