In vivo evaluation of antioxidant activity of alcoholic extract of Rubia Cordifolia and its influence on lead nitrate induced damage to tissue.

To evaluate the in vivo antioxidant activity of alcoholic extract of the roots of Rubia cordifolia (RC). Male mice, were exposed, either to lead nitrate at a dose containing 40mg/kg body weight or combined with Rubia cordifolia for the first period of 40 days, where the animals were sacrificed for oxidative studies and biochemical studies. Lead has induced a significant increase in LPO, where as significant depletion SOD, CAT and GSH in liver and testis tissues. Rubia cordifolia alone had moderate effect on mice, where as coadministration of lead nitrate with Rubia cordifolia reversed the effect of lead. Ingestion of Pb (NO3)2 showed significant elevation in AST, ALT, ACP, ALP, and total cholesterol, level in tissue homogenate whereas Total protein content decreased significantly in comparison to control animals. On the other hand Alcoholic extract of Rubia cordifolia (low and high dose), along with lead nitrate decreased, elevated levels of AST, ALT, ACP, ALP, and total cholesterol, as compared to lead nitrate intoxicated mice. A significant rise in the level of total protein was also noticed. Preliminary analysis has revealed that Rubia cordifolia has significant amount of GSH, Vitamin C, other important antioxidants and polyphenols. In addition it also contains important trace elements like Zn, Cu, Vd, Se and Mo. These contribute to its antioxidant properties.

Protective role of coriandrum sativum (coriander) extracts against lead nitrate induced oxidative stress and tissue damage in the liver and kidney in male mice.

The present study describes antioxidant effect of Coriandrum sativum against lead nitrate induced toxicity in mice. Oxidative stress was induced in mice by a daily dose of lead nitrate (40 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage) for seven days. From day eight, after lead nitrate treatment, experimental animals received an oral dose of coriander extracts (aqueous extract - 300 mg/kg body weight and 600 mg/kg body weight; ethanolic extract - 250 mg/kg body weight and 500 mg/kg body weight) daily. The effect of these treatments in influencing the lead induced changes on hepatic and renal oxidative stress and biochemical changes along with histopathological alterations in soft tissues was studied. The data showed significant increase in liver and kidney LPO levels in animals treated with lead nitrate while the effect was attenuated by the plant extracts. Also, lead caused a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity and this effect was reversed in groups treated with plant extract. Treatment with coriander significantly reduced the adverse effects related to most of biochemical parameters altered in animals treated with lead, related to hepatic and renal oxidative stress. Oral administration of Coriander to lead treated mice attenuated the deranged histopathological changes to some extent. It can be concluded from these results that Coriandrum sativum protects against lead toxicity and warrants the identification and isolation of active compounds responsible for its antioxidant effects.