ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT OF TAMUS COMMUNIS L. ROOTS

Abstract

<p><strong>Object: </strong>The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities of <em>Tamus communis</em> L. (<em>T .communis</em>) roots. This plant is used in folk medicine in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and lumbago.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: 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 <em>in vitro</em> antioxidant activity such as DPPH (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy), bleaching of β-carotene for 24 hours, lipid peroxidation and anti-hemolytic activity. An <em>in vivo</em> 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.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: The results showed that the highest level of polyphenols was recorded in FII (73.143±0.009<strong> </strong>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&lt;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 was</p><p>exhibited 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).</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: These findings suggest that the extract obtained from <em>T.  communis</em> have active substances contributing to the increase in natural antioxidant potential.</p>