ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT OF TAMUS COMMUNIS L. ROOTS

Abstract

Object: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities of Tamus communis L. (T .communis) roots. This plant is used in folk medicine in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and lumbago.Methods: The extraction of polyphenols has been followed by the determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids. The methanol extract (MeOHE) was chromatographied on a silica gel column. The column was eluted with chloroform and then with chloroform /methanol mixtures of increasing polarity, 6 main fractions (FI--FVI)) were collected and grouped according to their TLC (Thin layer chromatography). Several methods were used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity such as DPPH (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy), bleaching of β-carotene for 24 hours, lipid peroxidation and anti-hemolytic activity. An in vivo approach was carried out on mice treated with CE (crud extract) at a dose of 100 mg / Kg / day for 21 consecutive days, and one group was treated with vitamin C (Vit C 50 mg/kg) as a standard drug. To determine the improvement of antioxidant potential, basic biochemical parameters were used in tissue (liver), plasma and whole blood.Results: The results showed that the highest level of polyphenols was recorded in FII (73.143±0.009 mg GA-Eq/g extract (Gallic Acid Equivalent)) / g of extract) followed by MeOHE (69.786±0.10 mg GA-Eq/g extract). Total flavonoid contents of extracts / fractions showed that MeOHE contains the highest level. Inhibition of DPPH radical showed that MeOHE (0.1187 ± 0.025 mg / ml) and CE (0.2363 ± 0.019 mg / ml) have the most efficient antioxidant activity. All the extracts were capable of inhibiting the bleaching of β-carotene by scavenging linoleate derived free radicals, and all the studied extracts have a very important antihemolytic activity (p<0.001) and revealed an extension of hemolysis half time from 70.34±2.15 min of CTL (AAPH (2,2-azo- bis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride)) and 207 ± 5.65 min for FI. The in vivo assay wasexhibited a significant decrease (54.09%) of the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver and increased glutathione (GSH) and catalase (47.30% and 46.87% respectively).Conclusion: These findings suggest that the extract obtained from T. communis have active substances contributing to the increase in natural antioxidant potential.