Anti-hemolytic, Anti-lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidant Properties and Acute Toxicity of Xanthium strumarium Leaves Extracts

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant effects of different extracts prepared from the leaves of Xanthium strumarium. Polyphenols and flavonoids contents in all extracts were determined by spectrophotometric assays, antioxidant and antiradical capacities of the extracts were assayed using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, reducing power, β-carotene and anti-hemolytic assay. In addition, the in vivo antioxidant activity of three concentrations of leaves crude extract was investigated. Antioxidant activity of the crude extract was examined using anti-hemolytic assay and the determination of Glutathione and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and catalase activity. In vitro antioxidant assays showed that crude extract and its fractions have strong effects in scavenging DPPH and reducing power. These activities decreased in the following order: ethyl acetate extract (EAE) > aqueous extract (AqE) > crude extract (CrE) > chloroform extract (ChE). The β-carotene bleaching assay showed that the CrE had the highest antioxidant activity followed by the EAE, AqE and the ChE. However, the anti-hemolytic test demonstrated that the ChE was the most effective in protecting red blood cells, followed by the EAE, AqE and the CrE. Three concentrations of leaves crude extract were tested for the in vivo antioxidant assays, and anti-hemolytic Catalase activity and the content of both MDA and Glutathione (GSH) were estimated. Among these tests, X. strumarium crude extract exhibited a potent inhibition of lipid peroxidation. It was concluded that X. strumarium extracts contain high phenolic content and have powerful antioxidant capacity in vitro and in vivo. These extracts were found to be safe with no toxic effects. These findings support the traditional use of this plant as an anti-inflammatory remedy.

Phytochemical Screening, In-vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Leaves, Stems and Roots of Xanthium strumarium L., (Compositae).

Introduction: Many diseases are associated with oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Current research is directed towards finding naturally occurring antioxidants of plant origin. Xanthium strumarium L. a cocklebur or bur weed is a reputed medicine in Europe, China, Indo-china, Malaysia and America. It is used in treatment of common disease such as hemicrania, leucoderma, biliousness, poisonous bites of insects, epilepsy, long standing malaria, relieving constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting etc. The present research deals with phytochemical screening and in-vitro evaluation of antioxidant activities of the various extracts of leaves, stems and roots of X. strumarium L. Method: Successive extracts of leaves, stems and roots was subjected for phytochemical screening. Various extracts of leaves, stems and roots were screened in-vitro for total antioxidant potential. Inhibition of oxygen derived free radicals, viz., assay for free radical scavenging of nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, the antioxidant capacity by phosphomolybdenum, reducing power ability and determination of phenolic and flavonoids content in the extracts of leaves, stems and roots were performed. DPPH scavenging activity or the Hydrogen donating capacity was quantified in presence of stable DPPH radical on the basis of Blois method. NO scavenging activity was performed in the presence of nitric oxide generated from sodium nitroprusside using ascorbic acid as standard in both methods. The phenolic content was determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and flavonoid content was determined by aluminium chloride. Result: The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, sterols, flavonoids, alkaloids and phenolic compounds in the extracts. The scavenging activity was found to be dose dependent. The reducing capacity serves as significant indicator of antioxidant activity. The reducing power increased with the increasing concentration of sample. The 100mg powder of leaves yielded 0.069, 0.523, 1.620 mg/g phenolic content and 0.17, 0.45, 0.95 mg/g flavonoid content with solvents such as petroleum ether (60º-80ºc), chloroform, and ethanol respectively. Similarly, in case of stems and roots the phenolic content yielded 0.063, 0.324, 1.324 mg/g and 0.040, 0.159, 0.41 mg/g and flavonoids content 0.00, 0.11, 0.23 mg/g and 0.00, 0.05, 0.18 mg/g respectively, using quercetin as standard. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence that X. strumarium L., is a potential source of antioxidants and the extracts have constituents which were capable of showing antioxidant activity and the said in-vitro antioxidant activity may also be due to the presence of antioxidant principles present in the extracts like flavonoid and phenolic compounds. So the folklore use of X. strumarium L. has been proved in present research work. These findings confirm the great interest of the herb whose phytochemistry and phytopharmacology should be investigated further in order to detect possible phytotherapeutic uses in the prevention of ageing related diseases, cardiovascular disorders and Alzheimer disease.

Effects of extraction methods of phenolic compounds from Xanthium strumarium L. and their antioxidant activity / Efeito de métodos de extração de compostos fenólicos de Xanthium strumarium L. e suas atividades antioxidantes

Foram avaliados os efeitos de métodos de extração e de solventes sobre o rendimento de extrato, conteúdo de fenólicos totais, atividade antioxidante, e composição dos compostos fenólicos de Xanthium strumarium L. A atividade antioxidante foi determinada pelo método do radical 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazila (DPPH), e a composição dos compostos fenólicos foi determinada por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência e por espectrometria de massas com ionização por electrospray. Todos os resultados foram afetados pelo método de extração e, principalmente pelo solvente utilizado, sendo que os melhores resultados foram obtidos com o solvente metanol. Os extratos metanólico e etanólico apresentaram forte ação antioxidante e os principais compostos fenólicos encontrados nos extratos foram os ácidos ferúlico e clorogênico.

The effect of extraction methods and solvents on overall yield, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and the composition of the phenolic compounds in Xanthium strumarium extracts were studied. The antioxidant activity was determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), and the composition of the phenolic compounds was determined by HPLC-DAD and LC/MS. All results were affected by the extraction method, especially by the solvent used, and the best results were obtained with the methanol extract. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity, and the chlorogenic and ferulic acids were the most abundant phenolic compounds in the extracts.

Prácticas agrícolas para el cultivo de Xanthium strumarium L (guizazo de caballo) con fines terapéuticos / Agricultural practices for the culture of Xanthium strumanium L (guizazo de caballo) with therapeutic aims

Xanthium strumarium (guizazo de caballo) se encuentra entre las plantas con antividad antimitótica. OBJETIVOS: determinar en esta especie los aspectos agrícolas que garanticen el adecuado material vegetal. MÉTODOS: se realizaron estudios durante 2007-2009, donde se evaluaron dos fechas de siembra: junio y julio; dos distancias de siembra 90 x 30 cm y 90 x 50 cm y dos momentos de cosecha: 3 meses de edad (parte aérea y raíces) en plantas que presentaban estado de floración-fructificación y 4 meses de edad (solo raíces) en plantas en fructificación. Las semillas, obtenidas de areales silvestres, se sembraron en parcelas, 3 repeticiones en cada caso. Se evaluó la altura de las plantas en el momento de la cosecha, se seleccionaron 10 plantas/parcelas y se cosecharon 39 plantas/parcelas en la distancia de 90 x 30 cm y 24 plantas en la distancia de 90 x 50 cm, en el caso del follaje se evaluaron los rendimientos de 10 plantas/parcelas en cada caso. RESULTADOS: se observó que bajo cultivo la altura de las plantas fueron mayores en las que se sembraron en junio, con distancia de 90 x 30 cm, en tanto que en las de julio se comportaron de forma similar, independientemente a las distancias de siembra empleadas y en correspondencia con ello los rendimientos resultaron iguales; sin embargo, cuando se quieren cosechar también las raíces, es preferible hacer la cosecha a los 3 meses de edad y, en este caso, los mayores valores se presentaron en las siembras de julio, con distancia de 90 x 30 cm. CONCLUSIÓN: para el aprovechamiento de la planta con doble propósito: parte aérea y raíces, pues en ambas se ha encontrado la actividad antimitótica, la siembra se debe realizar entre junio y julio a la distancia de 90 x 30 cm y recolectarse el material a la edad de 3 meses

Xanthium strumarium (guizazo de caballo) is among the plants with antimitotic activity. OBJECTIVES: to determine in this species the agricultural features to guarantee the appropriate plant material. METHODS: during 2007-2009 studies were conducted to assess to sow dates: June and July; two sow distances 90 x 30 cm and 90 x 50 cm at two sow periods: three months of age (aerial parts and roots) in plants with a flowering-fructification states and four months of age (only roots) in plants in fructification process. Seeds obtained from wild aerial plants were sowed in plots, three repetitions in each case. The plants height was assessed at the harvest moment, choosing 10 plants/lots and 39 plants/lots were growed at a 90 x 30 cm distance and 24 plants at the 90 x 50 cm distance, in the case of foliage the yields of 10 plants/lots were assessed in each case. RESULTS: there was that at culture the plants heights were higher in those sowed in June at a 90 x 30 cm distance while those sowed in July behaved in a similar way independently of the sow distances used and in correspondence with it, the yields were similar; however, when we desire to grow also the roots, it is preferable to grow at three months of age, and in this case, the higher values were in sows of July at a 90 x 30 cm distance. CONCLUSION: for the plant exploitation with a double aim: aerial parts and roots, since in both there is antimitotic activity, sow must to be performed between June and July at a 90 x 30 cm distance and to harvest the material at three months age

Evaluation of Larvicidal and Repellent Activity of Xanthium Strumarium (Asteraceae) Ethanol Extract agaist Mosquito Vectors.

Ethanol extract of leaf and seed of Xanthium strumarium was investigated for anti-mosquito potential, including larvicidal and repellent activities against Anopheles culicifacies, Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. The ethanol-extracted Xanthium strumarium possessed larvicidal activity against fourth instar larvae of An. culicifacies, An. stephensi Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti. The LD 50 and LD values of ethanol-extracted of leaf were 0.19, 0.8, 0.27, 0.27% and 90 1.3, 1.3, 1.0, 1.8% and seed were 0.15, 0.9, 0.25, 0.23 and 1.5, 1.4, 1.7, 1.9% against An. culicifacies An. stephensi Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti respectively. It showed 100% repellency against An. culicifacies, An. stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus in 0h 1h, 2h 4h and 1h 2h 6h, at 10% concentration respectively. It also provided biting protection time of 0h, 1h, 2h, 4h, and 6h when applied at a concentration of 2.5, 5, and 10 %. Against Deet- 2.5% An. culicifacies Giles species A 100% repellency in 1h, 2h, An. stephensi Liston 100% repellency in 2h, 4h, and Culex quinquefasciatus Say have shown 100% repellency in 4h. Xanthium strumarium, therefore, can be considered as a probable source of some biologically active compounds used in the development of mosquito control agents, particularly repellent and larvicidal products.