Abstract

The study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of rhizome of Podophyllum hexandrum under in vitro and in vivo situations. The extract was found to contain a large amount of polyphenols and also exhibit an immense reducing ability. At a concentration of 250 µg/ml, 48% of H₂O₂ radicals could be scavenged by the extract. The extract also inhibited hydroxyl radical (^●OH) induced oxidation of protein (BSA). The ethanolic rhizome extract of P. hexandrum also exhibited a significant antioxidant activity in acute oxidative tissue injury animal model constituted by CCl₄induced hepatotoxicity. Oral administration of the extract at a dose of 20 and 50 mg/kg bw significantly protected from CCl₄ induced elevation in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum, depletion of hepatic protein and GSH content, decrease in the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes: glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase.

Key words: Podophyllum hexandrum, CCl₄, antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging.