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Indian Journal of Pharmacology
Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Pharmacological Society
ISSN: 0253-7613 EISSN: 0253-7613
Vol. 41, No. 2, 2009, pp. 64-67
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Bioline Code: ph09019
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Indian Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 41, No. 2, 2009, pp. 64-67
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Antioxidant potential of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus in rats
Karuna, R; Reddy, S Sreenivasa; Baskar, R & Saralakumari, D
Abstract
Objective: Increased levels of oxidative stress may be implicated in the etiology of many pathological conditions. Protective antioxidant action imparted by many plant extracts and plant products make them promising therapeutic drugs for free radical induced pathologies. In this study we assessed the antioxidant potential of Phyllanthus amarus (Euphorbiaceae).
Materials and Methods: Experimental rats were divided into two groups: Control and Phyllanthus amarus (P. amarus) treated. Treated rats received P. amarus aqueous extract (PAAEt) at a dose of 200 mg/kg body wt/day for 8 weeks. After the treatment period of 8 weeks lipid peroxidation (LPO), vitamin C, uric acid and reduced glutathione (GSH) were estimated in plasma and antioxidant enzymes: Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also assayed. Genotoxicity of PAAEt was assessed by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) of lymphocytes under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. The protective role of PAAEt against hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), streptozotocin (STZ) and nitric oxide generating system induced lymphocyte DNA damage was also assessed by SCGE.
Results: PAAEt treated rats showed a significant decrease in plasma LPO and a significant increase in plasma vitamin C, uric acid, GSH levels and GPx, CAT and SOD activities. SCGE experiment reveals that PAAEt was devoid of genotoxicity and had a significant protective effect against H 2 O 2 , STZ and nitric oxide (NO) induced lymphocyte DNA damage.
Conclusion: The results suggest the non-toxic nature of PAAEt and consumption of PAAEt can be linked to improved antioxidant status and reduction in the risk of oxidative stress.
Keywords
Antioxidants, lymphocytes, Phyllanthus amarus, single cell gel electrophoresis SCGE
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