In vitro Antioxidant Response of the Equine Blood Treated by Leaf Extract of Ficus drupacea Thunb.

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the aqueous extract derived from the leaves of Ficus drupacea Thunb. using oxidative stress biomarkers (2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), aldehydic and ketonic derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins, and total antioxidant capacity) and antioxidant defences (activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase GPx), ceruloplasmin (CP) on the model of equine erythrocytes and plasma after incubation in vitro. Freshly collected leaves were washed, weighed, crushed, and homogenized in 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) (in the proportion of 1:19, w/w). The equine erythrocytes and plasma were used in the current study. A volume of 0.1 mL of the F. drupacea extract was added to 1.9 mL of equine erythrocytes or plasma. For positive control (blank), 0.1 mL of phosphate buffer was used. The treatment of equine plasma and erythrocytes by extract derived from leaves of F. drupacea resulted in reduced lipid peroxidation and oxidatively modified protein. Treatment by extract resulted in a reduced erythrocyte TBARS level of 21.9% (p = 0.017) compared to the untreated samples. The levels of aldehydic and ketonic derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins were non-significantly decreased. The incubation of equine plasma with an extract derived from leaves of F. drupacea increased antioxidant defences. The activity of SOD and GPx were increased by 41.6% (p = 0.000) and 61.5% (p = 0.000) in the equine plasma after in vitro incubation with an extract derived from leaves of F. drupacea compared to the untreated samples. The level of total antioxidant capacity was non-significantly increased. However, further detailed investigation, especially in vivo and in vitro antioxidant studies is needed to justify the use of extract derived from leaves of F. drupacea as a natural source of antioxidants.