Antioxidant potential of the flowers of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Swartz in an in uitro system subjected to oxidative stress
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Date
2013
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Abstract
Background; Oxidative stress leads to various pathological conditions including cancer.
Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase represent the cell defense
mechanism for preventing oxidative damage. Recently many studies have focused
on finding natural antioxidants, especially of plant origin for the treatment of oxidative
stress associated diseases. The pharmacological and therapeutic properties of plants are
attributed to the ability of antioxidants in them to scavenge free radicals.
Objective: In the present study, goat liver was selected as an in uitro model to determine the
antioxidant effects of the three flowers (orange, pink and yellow) of Caesalpinia pulcherrima both
in the presence and the absence of a standard oxidant (H2O2). The enzymic antioxidants (catalase,
peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase)
and the non-enzymic antioxidants (vitamins A, C, E and reduced glutathione) were analysed.
Results; Treatment with hydrogen peroxide reduced the antioxidant levels in goat liver
slices which were improved on co-treatment with the flower extracts, which proved the
antioxidant efficacy of the flowers.
Conclusion; Our findings showed that the methanolic extract of the flowers of C. pulcherrima
exhibits significant antioxidant activity against H202-induced oxidative stress in goat liver
model.