Background: Iron accumulation in the liver is customary in pathological conditions associated with oxidative stress. Iron is
also an essential element for organisms at its physiological levels. This study was aimed at investigating the antioxidant and
hepatoprotective potential of acetone and methanol defatted seed extracts of
Bauhinia variegata Linn (Leguminosae)
against ferric chloride (FeCl
3)-induced lipid peroxidation in chicken liver
in vitro.
Materials and Methods: Antioxidant capacity and hepatoprotective potential of acetone and methanol defatted seed
extracts of
B. variegata were evaluated using the established in vitro models, FeCl
3-induced lipid peroxidation in chicken
liver homogenate and thin layer chromatography-2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (TLC-DPPH). Ascorbic acid, and acetone
and methanol seed extracts of milk thistle (
Silybum marianum
) were used as antioxidant and hepatoprotective controls.
Results: An overall of 80% acetone and absolute methanol defatted seed extracts of
B. variegata [
B. variegata acetone
extract (BVAc) and
B. variegata methanol extract (BVMe)] revealed to possess antioxidant and free radical scavenging
capacity, which can protect the liver from FeCl
3-induced lipid peroxidation in a concentration-dependent manner when
compared with controls, ascorbic acid and extracts of milk thistle. At concentrations of 250 μg/mL and 300 μg/mL,
thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) inhibitions were 80.5% and 97.6% for BVAc; and 84% and 98.7% for milk
thistle acetone extract (MSAc). At concentration of 300 μg/mL, BVMe and milk thistle methanol extract (MSMe) TBARS
inhibitions were 89.0% and 93.8%, respectively. These findings may confirm the presence of antioxidant compounds with
hepatoprotective potential in both defatted seed extracts of
B. variegata.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest acetone and methanol extracts of
B. variegata defatted seeds may serve as
good sources of natural antioxidant and hepatoprotective agents.
