Alhagi maurorum aqueous extract protects against norfloxacin-induced hepato-nephrotoxicity in rats

Alhagi maurorum Ethanolic Extract Rescues Hepato-Neurotoxicity and Neurobehavioral Alterations Induced by Lead in Rats via Abrogating Oxidative Stress and the Caspase-3-Dependent Apoptotic Pathway

This work investigated the probable protective effect of an Alhagi maurorum ethanolic extract on the hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity accompanied by neurobehavioral deficits caused by lead in rats. Rats in four groups were orally administered distilled water, ethanolic extract of A. maurorum (300 mg/kg BW daily), lead (100 mg/kg BW daily for 3 months), and lead + A. maurorum extract. The results demonstrated that lead exposure resulted in elevated locomotor activities and sensorimotor deficits associated with a decrease in brain dopamine levels. Moreover, lead exposure significantly increased liver function markers. In addition, the lead-treated rats exhibited extensive liver and brain histological changes and apoptosis. The lead treatment also triggered oxidative stress, as demonstrated by the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations with a remarkable reduction in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and transcriptional mRNA levels of antioxidant genes in the liver and brain. Nevertheless, co-treatment with the A. maurorum extract significantly ameliorated the lead-induced toxic effects. These findings indicate that the A. maurorum extract has the ability to protect hepatic and brain tissues against lead exposure in rats through the attenuation of apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Evaluation of Peronema canescens Leaves Extract: Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis, Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Content, Antioxidant Capacity, and Radical Scavenger Activity

BACKGROUND: Peronema canescens (Sungkai) leaves have been popular in Indonesia which contain various bioactive compounds with empirical therapeutic efficacy in dealing with COVID-19 and various other diseases. Total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity using the DPPH method from P. canescens leaf extract have not been studied much. AIM: This research has several objectives. The first is to compare the results of qualitative phytochemical analysis of the ethanol extract of the leaves of P. canescens (EEPL). The second is to measure the total phenol and flavonoid content. The third is to test the FTIR and antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract of P. canescens leaves in vitro using the DPPH method. METHODS: Fresh plant material and simplicia, ethanol extract extracted by maceration method using 96% ethanol as solvent from P. canescens. The Dragendorff’s and Mayer test carried out the qualitative phytochemical analysis, FeCl3 test, Salkowski method, Liebermann–Burchard method, foam test, and NaOH reagent. The total phenolic and flavonoid levels were tested using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. In vitro antioxidant activity was carried out using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method. RESULTS: The results of qualitative phytochemical screening showed that alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and steroids were detected in the extract of P. canescens. The spectra from the FTIR test results showed various absorbance peak values indicating the bonding of specific functional groups, namely: 418.12, 599.94, 666.67, 1036.39, 1159.52, 1224.16, 1348.95, 1454.19, 1600.87, 1732.00, 2923.13, and 3353.01 cm-1. In the test results, total phenolic content was as much as 5.64% (mgEAG/g) and total flavonoid content of 142,247 mgEQ/g in a sample of 1 mg extract, which was equivalent to 1 mg quercetin. EEPL has antioxidant activity with the DPPH IC50 method of 116.7865 ppm. CONCLUSION: The data obtained at this time can contribute to the exploitation of P. canescens leaves in the future as one of the nutraceutical products, supplements, and herbal medicines by specific industries related to improving the health status of the world community. The higher the bioactive substance in preparation, the more significant the effect of the pharmacological efficacy response. P. canescens ethanol extract has good total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant action.

The potential effect of phytochemicals and herbal plant remedies for treating drug-induced hepatotoxicity: a review

Drug-induced liver injury significantly caused by synthetic drugs, and other xenobiotics contribute to clinical hepatic dysfunction, which has been a substantial challenge for both patients and physicians. Traditional medicines used as an alternative therapy because of their pharmacological benefits, less or no side effects, and enormous availability in nature. Phytochemicals are essential ingredients of plants that reduce necrotic cell death, restore the antioxidant defence mechanism, limit oxidative stress, and prevent the inflammation of tissue and dysfunction of the mitochondria. In this review, we principally focused on the potential effect of the herbal plants and their phytochemicals in treating drug-induced hepatotoxicity.