A comparative study on in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Desmodium gangeticum (Leguminosae) root

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo free radical scavenging effect of aqueous extract of Desmodium gangeticum (DG) root in different antioxidant models and experimentally induced ischemic reperfusion in an isolated rat heart. The rats were divided into three groups namely control, reperfusion control, and drug treated. For in vivo study, ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) was induced by 30 minutes ischemia followed by reperfusion of Krebs-Henseleit buffer for 15 minutes or 30 minutes or 45 minutes. Oral administration of DG extract (50 and 100 mg/kg once daily for 30 days) was performed in rats of drug group and an
increase of enzymatic activity of SOD, catalase and GPx along with an inhibition of lipid per-oxidations were observed. However, a significant rise in lipid peroxidation and reduction in myocardial SOD, catalase, and GPx were observed during IRI. The inhibitory
concentrations (IC50) in DPPH, superoxide scavenging activity, hydroxide scavenging activity, nitric oxide scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation were found to be 51.3, 24.6, 52.7, 53.2 and 415 mg/mL respectively. The presence of cactine, an alkaloid used to treat irregular heartbeat, angina pectoris and cardiac neuralgia was reported in DG through GS-MS analysis. The above results suggest that the aqueous extract of DG root exhibit potential free radical scavenging effect that can reduce the oxidative stress exhibited by IRI.
Key words: Desmodium gangeticum, GS-MS, in vitro antioxidants, myocardial ischemia reperfusion