ABSTRACT
Due to emerging drug resistance in pathogenic organisms, most of the second generation antibiotics are not effective in controlling the disease. As a consequence, the dosage and duration of drug intake has increased leading to drug induced toxicity and various side effects. A large number of natural products are being reported to ameliorate the toxicity and oxidative stress caused by antibiotics. Here, we explored the antioxidative potential of honey bee product propolis alone as well as in combination with antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus infected BALB/c mice. For experimental design, mice were divided in to seven groups and decapitated after experimental period. Kidney was excised, homogenized and then used for different biochemical and histopathological estimations. Results observed after treatment with propolis and antibiotics were compared with those of S. aureus infected group. Results showed increase in lipid peroxidation, decrease in reduced glutathione levels and antioxidant enzymes such as; catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. On the contrary, treatment with propolis, led to reduction in levels of LPO and increase in activities of antioxidant enzymes. Also, histopathology of kidney and all kidney function enzymes were restored to near normal.
ABSTRACT
Antioxidants are the substances that neutralize free radicals or their actions. The traditional antioxidant phytochemicals from plants have been reported to inhibit the propagation of free radical reactions and to protect the human body from disease. The use of synthetic antioxidants has always been questioned because of their toxicity therefore researches are being carried out on plants nowadays to bring out the potent natural antioxidants. With this intent three ethnomedicinal plants of Assam viz., Calamus leptospadix Griff., Heliotropium indicum Linn., Lasia spinosa Lour. were explored with a view to evaluate their in-vitro antioxidative potentials. The methanolic aerial extracts were studied for phytochemical analysis and antioxidative properties by different in-vitro assays: DPPH radical scavenging method, Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, Hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity, Total phenolic content and Total flavonoid content. The percentage of inhibition was calculated by comparing the absorbance values of the control and test samples. The study conducted revealed that methanolic extract of Calamus leptospadix (CL) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 29 ± 3.24 μg/ml), Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity (233.33 ± 3.54 μg/ml), Total phenolic content (8.02 ± 0.32 μg/ml expressed as gallic acid equivalents) and Total flavonoid contents (61.71 ± 1.16 μg/ml expressed as quercetin equivalents). Methanolic extract of Lasia spinosa (LS) showed highest hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 221.89 ± 2.14 μg/ml). The results obtained in the present study indicate that aerial parts of Calamus leptospadix have potent, Lasia spinosa have moderate and Heliotropium indicum (HI) have mild antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity.