Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Neuroprotective Effect ofTerminalia chebulaRetzius Extracts

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine phytochemical compositions, chemiluminescence antioxidant activities, and neuroprotective effects on PC12 cells for water, methanol, and 95% ethanol extracts of the air-dried fruit ofTerminalia chebulaRetzius. The water extract afforded the greatest yield, and total phenolic and tannin content. The methanol extract yielded the greatest total triterpenoid content. Based on four chemiluminescence antioxidant assays, the three extracts showed various degrees of antioxidant activity. The methanol extract showed good antioxidant activity based on the horseradish peroxidase-luminol-hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) assay. The water extract appeared to have good antioxidant activities in cupric sulfate-Phen-Vc-H₂O₂and luminol-H₂O₂assays. Pyrogallol-luminol assay showed the 95% ethanol extract to have good antioxidant activity. The methanol and water extracts presented neuroprotective activities on H₂O₂-induced PC12 cell death at 0.5–5.0 μg/mL. Further investigations are necessary to verify these activitiesin vivo.