Free Radical Scavenging and Antioxidant Impact of Indian Medicinal Plant Extracts on H2O2 Mediated Oxidative Stress on Human Erythrocytes

In the present study four traditional Indian medicinal plants Orchis latifolia, Boswellia serrata, Boerhavia diffusa and Centratherum anthelminticum were investigated for their antioxidant potential and their protective effect in preventing haemolysis and lipid peroxidation in human red blood cells. In this study methanolic (MeOH) extracts of these four plants were partitioned with various solvents of different to obtain fractions. The fractions first subjected to phytochemical analysis followed by evaluation of their antioxidant potential by measuring the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging potential and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) potential. After this the selected fractions were tested in vitro to determine their protective effect against H2O2 induced haemolysis and lipid peroxidation in human RBCs. The study demonstrated a strong antioxidant potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of C. anthelminticum and O. latifolia as evident from high phenolic and flavonoid content and strong free radical scavenging activity. Further, the results also show a strong relation between the total phenolics and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity as demonstrated by the selected plant fractions. The fractions also protected membrane integrity resulting in a reduction of RBC haemolysis and lipid peroxidation during artificially induced oxidative stress. The results also provide scientific evidence to support the folk medicinal utilization of these plants for the treatment of various ailments and may offer new possibilities in the therapy of pathological conditions related to generation of free radicals.

Author(s): Syed Ana Jawaid, Sanjoli Jain, Manisha Bhatnagar, Sharmishtha Purkayastha, Sabari Ghosal and Anupama Sharma Avasthi

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