ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Phyllanthus simplex Retz. (Phyllanthaceae), Crotolaria juncea Linn. (Leguminosae), Leucas aspera Linn. (Lamiaceae), and Vitex glabrata R.Br. (Verbenaceae) are well-known Indian medicinal plants. Different parts of these plants are used for healing purposes traditionally in the treatment of psoriasis and various other disorders. This prompted us to assess the antipsoriatic activities of these plants. OBJECTIVES: Petroleum ether and ethanol extracts of the selected plants, i.e., P. simplex (whole plant), C. juncea (seeds), L. aspera (aerial parts), and V. glabrata (leaves) were investigated for their in vitro antipsoriatic activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antipsoriatic activity of the extracts was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, using HaCaT cells. About 200 µl of different concentrations (25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 µg/ml) of test samples were prepared in the cell culture medium and incubated for 24 h before MTT assay to determine the viable cells. The effect of these extracts on nitric oxide (NO) production and lipid peroxidation was also evaluated. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that these plants showed promising skin keratinocyte antiproliferative activity. However, the petroleum ether extract of C. juncea (CJPE) and ethanol extract of L. aspera (LAEE) were found to exhibit significant activity (IC50 value = 45.45 and 55.36 µg/ml, respectively). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The inhibitory action against NO production and lipid peroxidation in HaCaT cells suggested that the antipsoriatic activity of the extracts was mediated by an antioxidant mechanism. These findings validate the claims of the use of these plants in the treatment of psoriasis.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Dermatologic Agents/pharmacology , Fabaceae , Keratinocytes/drug effects , Lamiaceae , Phyllanthus , Psoriasis/drug therapy , Alkanes/chemistry , Antioxidants/isolation & purification , Cell Line, Transformed , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cell Survival/drug effects , Dermatologic Agents/isolation & purification , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Ethanol/chemistry , Fabaceae/chemistry , Humans , India , Keratinocytes/metabolism , Lamiaceae/chemistry , Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Phyllanthus/chemistry , Phytotherapy , Plant Components, Aerial , Plants, Medicinal , Psoriasis/metabolism , Seeds , Solvents/chemistry , Time FactorsABSTRACT
This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of the ethanol extract of Vitex glabrata (EEVG) in a CCl(4)-induced liver damage model in rats; and to isolate and characterise the bioactive constituent from EEVG. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated by changes in the levels of the serum enzymes viz. AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin, and further by histopathological examinations of liver tissues. Antioxidant activity was measured in terms of superoxide dismutase, GSH, lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase and peroxidase levels in liver homogenate. The pentamethoxy flavonoid artemetin was isolated and characterised from EEVG. Artemetin and EEVG pre-treatment significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited LPO in CCl(4)-intoxicated livers and reduced the elevated serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin to normal; it also brought back the normal architecture of liver tissues. Antioxidant activity of EEVG was found to be comparable with silymarin (p < 0.05). In conclusion, EEVG possesses significant hepatoprotective activity, which may be mediated by the antioxidant mechanisms of its components, predominantly artemetin.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning/prevention & control , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/prevention & control , Liver/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Vitex/chemistry , Animals , Ethanol/chemistry , RatsABSTRACT
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Phyllanthus simplex (Family: Euphorbiacae) is widely used in traditional medicines for treatment of various diseases including inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Petroleum ether extract (PSPE) and ethanol extract (PSEE) of the whole plant of Phyllanthus simplex were characterized for their total phenolics, tannins and flavonoids content. These extracts were standardized by HPTLC using phyllanthin and gallic acid respectively as markers. Antioxidant activity of extracts was evaluated by the DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals scavenging assay. The total antioxidant capacity of extracts was determined. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by their effect on nitric oxide (NO) production in isolated rat peritoneal macrophages; carragennan-induced paw edema and formation of cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats. RESULTS: Abundance of phenolics was found in PSEE. Phyllanthin and gallic acid content in PSPE and PSEE were found to be 14.5 and 0.65% (w/w) respectively. PSEE showed concentration dependent significant scavenging of DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals with IC(50) values 102.219, 171.485 and 24.73 µg/ml respectively. PSEE significantly inhibited NO production in isolated rat peritoneum macrophages. Moreover, it also exhibited significant inhibition of carragennan-induced paw edema (58.48 ± 0.028%, p < 0.001, at 6h, 200 mg/kg oral dose) and cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation (45.671 ± 0.712%, p < 0.001, at 200mg/kg oral dose). Anti-inflammatory activity of PSEE was found to be comparable to diclofenac sodium. CONCLUSIONS: Significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were found in PSEE which may be attributed to its high phenolic content.
