Assessment of In vitro Antioxidant, Antidiabetic and Cytotoxic Activities of Sphaeranthus africanus Extracts

Sphaeranthus africanus is commonly used as a traditional remedy for sore throats and pain treatment in Vietnam. The aerial parts have been studied for its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. However, the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of the plant has not been explored. In this work, hydrophilic extracts of the plant's aerial parts were prepared in order to investigate its antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. Also, the cytotoxicity of the root was evaluated and compared to that of the aerial parts. All of the extracts inhibited lipid peroxidation with IC 50 values ranging from 2.05 to 3.56 µg/mL, indicating substantial antioxidant activity. At an IC 50 value of 4.80 μg/mL, the 50% ethanol extract exhibited the most potent inhibition of α-glucosidase. The cytotoxic activity of root extracts is 2 to 5-fold less than that of the aerial parts. Nevertheless, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of the root demonstrated a selective effect on leukemia cells, with no harm towards the normal HEK-293 cell line. This work provides a scientific support for the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of the plant. Hence, it may find a promising material for the development of novel antioxidant and antidiabetic agents. More research can be conducted on the phytochemistry and anticancer activities of the plant’s root.

Study on pharmacological effects of Vietnamese ginseng leaves

Vietnamese ginseng leaves had the effect on the central nervous system, shortening pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in smaller doses and lengthening pentobarbital- induced sleeping time in larger doses. Vietnamese ginseng leaves extract (600, 1200mg/kg p.o) and its total saponin (200mg/kg p.o) significantly recovered the stress-induced decrease in pentobarbital sleep to the normal level. In the other hand, Vietnamese ginseng leaves extract and its total saponin have the invigoration and antioxidant effects

Studies on hepatoprotective activity of Polyscias fruticosa based on antioxidant mechanism

Experimentally, hepatoprotective effect of DinhLang was expressed in mice. The extract of Dinh Lang leaf suppressed the increase of MDA level in brain and in liver of mice suffered from CCl4- induced hepatitis with antioxydant activity stronger than that of mixed extract and extract prepared from the root. Dinh Lang had manifested liver protective effect in tetrachlorurcarbone –induced acute hepatitis. Antioxydant effect expressed in the inhibition against the processes of peroxydation of cell membrane can be one of the mechanism of liver protective effect of Dinh Lang

Studies on Antistress and Antioxidant Effects of Schefflera elliptica (Blume) Harms. Araliaceae

Both ethanol extracts of the bark and leaves of Schefflera elliptica (Blume) Harms (Araliaceae) showed antistress effect on mice at the oral doses of 158 and 167 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The bark proved to be more effective than the leaves, and their efficacity increased with the doses. Both extracts possessed in vitro antioxidant activity at the concentrations of 50-100 mcg/ml, the bark also being more effective than the leaves. The total saponin extract of the bark exhibited antioxidant effects at the levels of 5-25 mcg/ml. So, saponins might be the chemical constituents determining the antioxidant activity.

Studies on Antioxidant Activity of Polyscias fruticosa Harms. (Araliaceae)

Extracts from roots and leaves of Polyscias fruticosa Harms. (Araliaceae) and their combination have been studied on lipid peroxidation in mouse brain using an auto-oxidation and a free radical generating system: the Fenton’s reagent (ferrous iron + hydrogen peroxide). All the root, leaf and combined extracts have inhibitory action on peroxidation of lipids and trolox, a water-soluble analogue of vitamin E used as a reference antioxidant compound. The results also indicate that the leaf extract is the strongest of all.