Food Chemistry
Food
Chemistry
Food Chemistry 95 (2006) 180–185 www.elsevier.com/locate/foodchem Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective potential of Phyllanthus niruri
R. Harish, T. Shivanandappa
*
Department of Food Protectants and Infestation Control, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570 020, India
Received 5 April 2004; received in revised form 25 November 2004; accepted 25 November 2004
Abstract
Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective potential of Phyllanthus niruri, a widely used medicinal plant, were investigated. Methanolic and aqueous extract of leaves and fruits of P. niruri showed inhibition of membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO), scavenging of
1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro. Antioxidant activity of the extracts were also demonstrable in vivo by the inhibition of the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) – induced formation of lipid peroxides in the liver of rats by pretreatment with the extracts. CCl4 – induced hepatotoxicity in rats, as judged by the raised serum enzymes, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), was prevented by pretreatment with the extracts, demonstrating the hepatoprotective action of P. niruri.
Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Phyllanthus niruri; Antioxidant activity; Lipid peroxidation; Hepatoprotective
1. Introduction
Free radicals, from both endogenous and exogenous sources, are implicated in the etiology of several degenerative diseases, such as coronary artery diseases, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and cancer (Halliwell,
Gutteridge, & Cross, 1992). High consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with low risk for these diseases, which is attributed to the antioxidant vitamins and other phytochemicals (Ames, Shigenaga, & Hagen,
1993; Prior, 2003; Weisburger, 1999). There is a great deal of interest in edible plants that contain antioxidants
and
Chemistry
Food Chemistry 95 (2006) 180–185 www.elsevier.com/locate/foodchem Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective potential of Phyllanthus niruri
R. Harish, T. Shivanandappa
*
Department of Food Protectants and Infestation Control, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570 020, India
Received 5 April 2004; received in revised form 25 November 2004; accepted 25 November 2004
Abstract
Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective potential of Phyllanthus niruri, a widely used medicinal plant, were investigated. Methanolic and aqueous extract of leaves and fruits of P. niruri showed inhibition of membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO), scavenging of
1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro. Antioxidant activity of the extracts were also demonstrable in vivo by the inhibition of the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) – induced formation of lipid peroxides in the liver of rats by pretreatment with the extracts. CCl4 – induced hepatotoxicity in rats, as judged by the raised serum enzymes, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), was prevented by pretreatment with the extracts, demonstrating the hepatoprotective action of P. niruri.
Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Phyllanthus niruri; Antioxidant activity; Lipid peroxidation; Hepatoprotective
1. Introduction
Free radicals, from both endogenous and exogenous sources, are implicated in the etiology of several degenerative diseases, such as coronary artery diseases, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and cancer (Halliwell,
Gutteridge, & Cross, 1992). High consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with low risk for these diseases, which is attributed to the antioxidant vitamins and other phytochemicals (Ames, Shigenaga, & Hagen,
1993; Prior, 2003; Weisburger, 1999). There is a great deal of interest in edible plants that contain antioxidants
and
References: (2003). Hepatoprotective activity of panchagavyaghrita against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats Ames, B. N., Shigenaga, M. K., & Hagen, T. M. (1993). Oxidants, antioxidants and the degenerative diseases of aging the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 90, 7915–7922. Bergmeyer, H. U. (1974). Methods of enzymatic analysis (Vol. 2). Buege, J. A., & Aust, S. D. (1978). Microsomal lipid peroxidation. Chopra, R. N., Nayar, S. L., & Chopra, I. C. (1986). Glossary of indian medicinal plants, CSIR, New Delhi De, S., Shukla, V. J., Ravishankar, B., & Bhavasar, G. C. (1996). A preliminary study on the hepatoprotective activity of methanol Emmanuel, S., Amalaraj, T., & Ignacimuthu, S. (2001). Hepatoprotective effect of coumestans isolated from the leaves of Wedelia calandulaceae in paracetamol induced liver damage of Experimental Biology, 39, 1305–1307. Freitas, A. M., Schor, N., & Boim, M. A. (2002). The effect of Phyllanthus niruri on urinary inhibitors of calcium oxalate crystallization and other factors associated with rena formation Gulcum, I., Oktay, M., Krreccr, E. O., & Kufrevioglu, I. (2003). Halliwell, B., Gutteridge, J. M. C., & Cross, C. E. (1992). Free radicals, antioxidants and human disease: Where are we now? Hatano, T., Kagawa, H., Yasuhara, T., & Okuda, T. (1988). Two new flavonoids and other constituents in licorice root; their relative Kapur, V., Pillai, K. K., Hussain, S. Z., & Balani, D. K. (1994). Khanna, A. K., Rizvi, F., & Chander, R. (2002). Lipid lowering activity of Phyllanthus niruri in hyperlipemic rats Nishikimi, M., Rao, A., & Yagi, K. (1972). The occurrence of superoxide anion in the reaction of reduced phenazine methosulphate and molecular oxygen Prior, R. L. (2003). Fruits and vegetables in the prevention of cellular oxidative damage Qian-Cutrone, J. (1996). Niruriside a new HIV REV/RRE binding inhibitor from Phyllanthus niruri G., & Ramadasan, K. (2002). Antitumour and anticarcinogenic activity of Phyllanthus amarus extract Santos, A. R., Filho, V. C., Yunes, R. A., & Calixto, J. B. (1995). 26(7), 1499–1506. Snedecor, G. W., & Cochran, W. G. (1980). Statistical methods (7th ed.) Venkateswaran, S. P., Millman, I., & Blumberg, B. S. (1987). Effects of an extract from Phyllanthus niruri on hepatitis B and woodchuck Vijayalakshmi, R., & Anandatheerthavarada, H. K. (1990). Preparation of brain microsomes with cytochrome P450 activity using calcium aggregation method Wang, B. E. (2000). Treatment of chronic liver diseases with traditional Chinese medicine Wang, M. X., Cheng, H. W., Li, Y. J., Meng, L. M., & Malik (1994). Weisburger, J. H. (1999). Mechanisms of action of antioxidants as exemplified in vegetables, tomatoes and tea Yildirim, A., Mavi, A., & Kara, A. A. (2001). Determination of antioxidants and antimicrobial activities of Rumex crispus L extracts. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 49, 4083–4089.