ANTIOXIDANT AND IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA AND BAUHINIA VARIEGATA IN RATS
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Date
2014-07-18
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CSKHPKV, Palampur
Abstract
The present investigation was undertaken to study the antioxidant and immunomodulatory
action of Glycyrrhiza glabra root and Bauhinia variegata stem bark extract. The fine powders of
roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra and stem bark of Bauhinia variegata were subjected to methanolic, aquamethanolic
and aqueous extraction and recovery of the extracts was 15.5, 19 and 10.24%,
respectively, in case of Glycyrrhiza glabra and 30, 9.65 and 16.66 %, respectively for Bauhinia
variegata. ABTS quenching activity (expressed as IC50 values) was 0.114 mg ml-1, 0.193 mg ml-1 and
0.709 mg ml-1 for methanolic, aqua-methanolic and aqueous extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra,
respectively whereas it was 0.276 mg ml-1, 0.302 mg ml-1 and 0.757 mg ml-1 for Bauhinia variegata
extracts, respectively. DPPH radical quenching activity (expressed as IC50 values) was 0.159 mg ml-1,
0.571 mg ml-1 and 0.552 mg ml-1 for methanolic, aqua-methanolic and aqueous extracts of Glycyrrhiza
glabra , respectively whereas it was 0.258 mg ml-1, 0.395 mg ml-1 and 0.410 mg ml-1 for Bauhinia
variegata extracts, respectively. These results suggested that methanolic extract had better quenching
activity for reactive radicals. The in vivo antioxidant activity was studied in rats (administred extract
of both plants at dose of 100 mg kg-1 b.w. p.o. for 30 days) by evaluating lipid peroxidation, reduced
glutathione and catalase in liver, kidney and erythrocytes of male Wistar rats (130-190g). Potassium
dichromate at dose rate of 30mg kg-1 b.w. orally for 30days was used to induce oxidative stress in rats.
The studies revealed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in lipid peroxidation in liver, kidney and
erythrocytes and a significant (P<0.05) increase in reduced glutathione level in the liver and kidney of
Bauhinia variegata and Glycyrrhiza glabra treated rats in comparison to oxidative stress induced
rats. Further immunomodulatory studies were conducted in the rats immunocompromised with
dexamethasone (5mg kg-1 b.w. interaperitoneally for 5 days). Dexamethasone caused
immunosuppression characterized by significant lymphocytopenia.The studies further revealed a
significant increase in footpad thickness of Glycyrrhiza glabra treated rats at 24 and 48 hours of
challenge with 10 % SRBCs administered interadermally on sub planter region of footpad. There was
a significant increase in the absolute lymphocyte count and haemagglutination titre in Glycyrrhiza
glabra treated rats. On differential leucocyte count a significant lymphocytopenia observed in
deaxamethasone treated rats. The histopathological evaluation of lymphoid tissue exhibited the
enhanced lymphocyte proliferation in lymphoid follicles in Glycyrrhiza glabra and Bauhinia
variegata treated rats. There was significant (P<0.05) increase in CD4+ receptor cell count in
lymphocytes in Glycyrrhiza glabra treated rats in comparison to rats immunocompromised with
dexamethasone. Further Glycyrrhhiza glabra had significantly (P<0.05) higher CD4+ cell count as
compared to Bauhinia variegata treated rats and CD4+ cell count was comparable to placebo treated
animals.The present studies revealed that Glycyrrhiza glabra has got a better antioxidant as well as
immunomodulatory activity as compared to Bauhinia variegata.
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