ABSTRACT
Background: Rumex turcomanicus Czerep. Locally named Sagh-Torshak, is one of native green vegetable medicinally valuable plant belongs to family Polygonaceae, growing spontaneously in Northeast Iran, where its leaves are highly appreciated and consumed. Despite the high consumption, its knowledge is inconsiderable
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of main phytochemical compound in leaf and root parts of R. turcomanicus Czerep. in different phenological stages
Methods: The wild-growing plants were harvested at vegetative, floral budding, full floweringand mature seed stages and dissected into root and shoot tissues, which were dried separately and subsequently assayed for total phenolics, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, oxalic acid content and antioxidant activity, by spectrophotometric method
Results: The results showed considerable contents of phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant activity in roots and shoots of plant, with the higher contents in roots as compared to shoots. Among different phonological stages the highest total phenol, flavonoid, oxalic acid content and antioxidant activity of shoots was obtained in mature seed stage. Ascorbic acid of shoot was highest in floral budding stage. The greatest total phenol and flavonoid content of root was observed in floral budding stage, while the highest antioxidant activity was obtained in mature seed stage. A high negatively correlation was obtained between ascorbic acid and Oxalic acid
Conclusion: The concentrations of secondary metabolites in Rumex turcomanicus Czerep. depend on the phenological stage and tissue of the plant. As plant aged, oxalic acid and ascorbic acid of shoots were increased and decreased, respectively
ABSTRACT
Olives and olive oil contain large amounts of oleuropein. This phenolic compound is responsible for their bitter taste and pungent aroma and has been recognized as a powerful hypotensive, hypoglycemic and antioxidant agent. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of oleuropein on ethanol-induced oxidative damage and to examine its beneficial effects on liver function. Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups: the first group served as untreated control
The second group of rats were given ethanol [4 g/kg] orally. Group 3 received oral oleuropein [15 mg/kg]
The final group of rats were fed ethanol [4 g/kg], 120 min after oral administration of oleuropein (15 mg/kg]
All of the treatments were applied for 4 weeks via gavage. Administration of ethanol to rats induced toxicity in their liver, as shown by the significant elevation in the serum levels of transaminases, total cholesterol as well as liver histopathological findings. Elevation of glutathione peroxidase activity, the hepatic main antioxidant enzyme, and total glutathione was observed to suppress oxidative stress in the ethanol group
TBARS [an indicator of lipid peroxidation] concentration is also increased in ethanol-treated rats
In contrast, oleuropein during ethanol treatment in rats resulted in a higher antiperoxidative enzyme activity, catalase, and inhibited toxicity to the liver, as monitored by the reduction in ALT and AST levels and TBARS concentration. It is suggested that oleuropein possesses beneficial antioxidant effects against ethanol-induced liver toxicity, and therefore use of olive leaf extract may have prophylactic value in reducing the common complications resulting from oxidative stress in alcoholism?
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant effects of aqueous fruit extract of Ziziphus jujuba on ethanol-induced oxidative stress and to examine its protective effects on sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity of male Wistar rats. Adult male rats [n=28] were divided into four equal groups: the first group served as untreated controls, the second group of rats was given ethanol [4 g/kg], and group 3 received aqueous fruit extract of Z. jujuba [200 mg/kg]. The final group of rats were supplemented by oral ingestion of ethanol [4 g/kg], which was preceded 60 min earlier by an oral administration of Z. jujuba extract [200 mg/kg]. Fruit extract of Z. jujuba could prevent the reduction of concentration, motility and plasma membrane integrity of the sperm in treated rats with Z. jujuba extract plus ethanol [P<0.05]. Glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities significantly increased in the animals ingested with Z. jujuba extract prior to ethanol compared to the ethanol group. Decrease of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] level was statistically significant in the animals that ingested the fruit extract of Z. jujuba prior to ethanol compared to the ethanol group [P<0.05]. Our findings suggest that aqueous fruit extract of Z. jujuba possesses beneficial effects on ethanol-induced sperm toxicity, subsequently enhancing sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity