Study on the Hemolytic and Anti-Hemolytic Activities of the Aerial Parts Extracts of Centaurea virgata and Centaurea solstitialis

Abstract

In this study, we subjected Centaurea virgata and Centaurea solstitialis extracts to a qualitative chemical analysis to identify the most important chemical groups they contain, we also aimed to determine their total phenolic content. In addition to the phytochemical study, hemolysis test was conducted to investigate the toxic effects of the plant extracts on red blood cells membranes, and to evaluate the plants’ ability to prevent the oxidative hemolysis for normal and G₆PD enzyme-deficient human erythrocytes. Qualitative Phytochemical analysis exposed that the aerial parts extracts contains phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and carbohydrates. Both extracts had good phenolic contents. The present study also showed that hydromethanolic extracts of the plants have no obvious toxic effects towards human erythrocytes membranes. The extracts proved their antioxidant activities through their excellent activities in protecting normal and G₆PD enzyme-deficient human erythrocytes from oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂. Further studies are wanted for detecting biological and biochemical effects of these plants.