Mitochondrial modulation as a potential mechanism of Vetiveria zizanioides root extract against liver damage in mice

The relationship between the expression of mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channels and the protective effects of methanolic extract of Vetiveria zizanioides Linn. Root against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage was investigated. Pretreatment of mice with Vetiveria zizanioides Linn. Root extract [300 and 500 mg/kg] significantly blocked the carbon tetrachloride-induced increase in both serum aspartate aminotransferase and serum alanine aminotransferase levels. The mitochondrial membrane potential was dropped from -188.0 +/- 2.5 mV to -156.8 +/- 3.0 mV [P < 0.01] after the mice had been treated with carbon tetrachloride. Pretreatment with methanolic extract of Vetiveria zizanioides Linn. Root [300 and 500 mg/kg] attenuated carbon tetrachloride -induced mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation [P< 0.05]. In addition, pretreatment of Vetiveria zizanioides Linn. Root extract at various concentrations exerted a dose-dependent effect against sensitivity to mitochondrial swelling induced by Calcium. Also, 500 mg/kg dose of extract significantly increased both transcription and translation of voltage-dependent anion channels, which was down-regulated by carbon tetrachloride treatment. The above data suggest that Vetiveria zizanioides Linn. Root extract mitigates the damage to liver mitochondria induced by carbon tetrachloride, possibly through the regulation of mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channels, one of the most important proteins in the mitochondrial outer membrane

Antioxidant potential of the root of Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash.

Vetiveria zizanioides, an aromatic plant commonly known as vetiver has been used for various ailments. The essential oil of vetiver root has been shown to possess antioxidant activity. However, antioxidant potential of spent root extract has not been reported. Hence, in the present study, ferric reducing, free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of two genotypes namely KS1 and gulabi of V. zizanioides L. Nash root were investigated using in vitro assays - the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reducing power (RP). KS1 genotype showed higher FRAP values, DPPH inhibition, TPC and RP potential compared to gulabi and the antioxidant activity increased with the concentration of the extract (10-1000 microg/mL). A significant protective effect of cv KS1 (100 microg/mL) extract was also observed in reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations of erythrocytes subjected to oxidative stress by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and hydrogen peroxide (H202). The cv KS1 showed better antioxidant activity, compared to cv gulabi indicating the possibility of exploring the presence of different phytoconstituents in the two varieties.