Background: The present study compares the protective properties of aqueous extracts of six medicinal plants,
Phyllanthus emblica
,
Terminalia
chebula
(black and yellow),
Terminalia arjuna,
Balsamodendron Mukul and
Alium sativum
against lipid per-oxidation in mice brain.
Methods: The antioxidant activities were analyzed by lipid per-oxidation assay, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay, total antioxidant
activity and metal chelation.
Results: The extracts (fruits and bark) showed inhibition against thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) induced by pro-oxidant (10 μM FeSO4)
in mice brain. Moreover, the free radical scavenging activities of the extracts was evaluated by the scavenging of DPPH radical (IC
50, 23.23±1.2 μg/ml
(
Phyllanthus emblica), 20.24±0.9 μg/ml (
Terminalia chebula yellow) and 17.33±1.1 μg/ml (
Terminalia chebula black), 19.44±0.45 ìg/ml (
Terminalia
arjuna), 56.59±2.1 μg/ml (
Balsamodendron Mukul) and <200 μg/ml (
Alium sativum).
Conclusion: The higher antioxidant and inhibitory effect of
Terminalia chebula black in this study could be attributed to its significantly higher
phenolic content, Fe(II) chelating ability, reducing ability and free radical scavenging activity. Therefore oxidative stress in brain could be potentially
prevented by the intake of these plants.
