Antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate soluble fraction of Acacia arabica bark in rats

Objective: To study the antioxidant activity of various extracts and fractions of Acacia arabica by in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Materials and Methods: Various solvent extracts were prepared by Soxhlet extraction. Extract fractionations were done by solvent-solvent extraction and flash chromatographic separation. In vitro lipid peroxidation was carried out by tertiary butyl hydroperoxide ­ induced lipid peroxidation. The most active fractions were identified and standardized R and D Center, The by thin layer chromatography (TLC). In vivo experiments on the most active fraction Himalaya Drug Company, were carried out with 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, p.o. doses, in carbon tetrachloride (CCl Bangalore-562 123, India induced hepatotoxicity, in rats. Various iochemical parameters like serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), superoxide dismutase Received: 21.10.2005 (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH), and lipid Revised: 26.4.2006 peroxidation were estimated. Accepted: 31.8.2006 Results: Flash chromatographic fractions 2-6 of ethyl acetate extract exhibited maximum activity with in vitro lipid peroxidation. In vivo evaluation of this active fraction (AA) in Correspondence to: CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity for 19 days at a dose of 150 mg/kg offered marked liver S. K. Mitra protection, which was evident by significant changes in lipid peroxidation, glutathione, E-mail: [email protected] superoxide dismutase and catalase (P<0.01). The treatment also showed significant changes in AST, ALT, and GSH-Px levels (P<0.05). At lower doses, the protection was not consistent. Conclusion: The polyphenol rich active fraction of Acacia arabica is a potent free radical scavenger and hepatoprotective and protects TBH-induced lipid peroxidation and CCl 4 -induced hepatic damage.