Borassus flabellifer L. crude male flower extracts alleviate cisplatin-induced oxidative stress in rat kidney cells

Objective:To investigate the effects of Borassus flabellifer L. extracts on antioxidant activity, maintenance of cellular redox, and mitochondrial function in cisplatin-induced kidney injury.Methods:The extracts of Borassus flabellifer were obtained from crude male flowers using ethyl acetate and methanol. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and ferric reducing antioxidant power, and total phenolic content was also determined. Cytoprotective activity of ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts was assessed after kidney cells were treated with cisplatin. Oxidative stress was determined by glutathione (GSH) assay, and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and JC-10 assays, respectively. Results:Borassus flabellifer methanolic extract exhibited greater antioxidant activity than the ethyl acetate extract. Cytoprotective effect was demonstrated in both extracts, particularly in the ethyl acetate extract. The extracts showed protection against the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin by prevention of the increased GSSG and declined GSH/GSSG ratio. Both extracts also prevented the increase in ROS formation, and loss of ΔΨm. Conclusions:Both Borassus flabellifer extracts show antioxidant activity and cytoprotective effect against cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity of NRK-52E cells by preventing oxidative stress and maintenance of GSH redox status. Borassus flabellifer extracts may possess beneficial effects on the prevention of oxidative stress-induced cell injury.

In vitro studies on phytochemical evaluation and antimicrobial activity of Borassus flabellifer Linn against some human pathogens

OBJECTIVE@#To detect preliminary phytochemicals and antimicrobial activity of seed coat of Borassus flabellifer (B. flabellifer) against some human pathogens.@*METHODS@#The antimicrobial activity of the organic solvent extracts of seed coat of B. flabellifer against various test microorganisms including bacteria and fungi was investigated using agar well diffusion technique.@*RESULTS@#The preliminary phytochemical screening of the aqueous, methanoic and ethanolic extracts of seed coat of B. flabellifer revealed the presence of certain phytochemicals like tannins, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides and terpenoids. The zone of inhibition of methanolic extracts varied from 16 to 23 mm where as with ethanol extracts from 14 to 23 mm and aqueous extracts from 10 to 15 mm at 50 mg/mL concentrations. Among all tested organisms, Aspergillus brasiliensis and Bacillus subtilis showed a higher rate of inhibition with ethanolic and methanolic extracts of B. flabellifer.@*CONCLUSIONS@#B. flabellifer exhibited higher rate of growth inhibition against some human pathogens, so it can be used for treatment of some infectious diseases. Further studies are being carried out to separate and purify the individual compounds that are present in seed coat of B. flabellifer by using various chromatographic techniques.

In vitro studies on phytochemical evaluation and antimicrobial activity of Borassus flabellifer Linn against some human pathogens

Objective: To detect preliminary phytochemicals and antimicrobial activity of seed coat of Borassus flabellifer (B. flabellifer) against some human pathogens. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of the organic solvent extracts of seed coat of B. flabellifer against various test microorganisms including bacteria and fungi was investigated using agar well diffusion technique. Results: The preliminary phytochemical screening of the aqueous, methanoic and ethanolic extracts of seed coat of B. flabellifer revealed the presence of certain phytochemicals like tannins, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides and terpenoids. The zone of inhibition of methanolic extracts varied from 16 to 23 mm where as with ethanol extracts from 14 to 23 mm and aqueous extracts from 10 to 15 mm at 50 mg/mL concentrations. Among all tested organisms, Aspergillus brasiliensis and Bacillus subtilis showed a higher rate of inhibition with ethanolic and methanolic extracts of B. flabellifer. Conclusions: B. flabellifer exhibited higher rate of growth inhibition against some human pathogens, so it can be used for treatment of some infectious diseases. Further studies are being carried out to separate and purify the individual compounds that are present in seed coat of B. flabellifer by using various chromatographic techniques.