Khan, MR; Marium, A; Shabbir, M; Saeed, N; Bokhari, J
Many human diseases are caused due to oxidative stress
involving excessive production of free radicals that can be ameliorated by the antioxidant
activities of plant extracts. Present study was designed to characterize the chemical composition
of Oxalis corniculata methanol extract (OCME) and its various fractions; O. corniculata n-hexane
(OCHE), O. corniculata ethyl acetate (OCEE), O. corniculata chloroform (OCCE) and O. corniculata
aqueous (OCAE); and to determine the antioxidant potential by different in vitro assays. OCME was
also evaluated for its antioxidant capacity against hepatotoxicity induced with carbon
tetrachloride (CCl4: 1 ml/kg b.w., 20% in olive oil, seven doses) in rat. The results showed the
presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, phlobatannins and
steroids in OCME while tannins were absent. Total amount of phenolic and flavonoids was affected
by the solvents and the sequence of solvents for phenolic contents was OCME > OCAE > OCCE > OCEE
> OCHE while for flavonoids was OCME > OCCE > OCAE > OCEE > OCHE. Free radicals were scavenged by
the extract/fraction in a dose response curve in all models. Biochemical parameters of serum;
aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), total bilirubin, cholesterol and
triglycerides were significantly increased while total protein and albumin were decreased by
CCl4. Treatment of CCl4 significantly decreased the liver contents of reduced glutathione (GSH)
and activities of antioxidant enzymes; catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione
peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GSR) and quinone
reductase (QR) whereas elevated the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) contents, and
hepatic lesions. All the parameters were brought back to control levels by the supplement of
OCME. The results of the present study suggest the antioxidant potential of OCME and its
fractions as evidenced by scavenging of free radicals and hepatoprotective capacity.