Hytochemicals, Antioxidant and Toxicological Properties of Methanol Extract of Lantana Camara Leaves.

Abstract

The plant kingdom offers a wide range of natural antioxidant and medicinal values. The antioxidant and toxicological effects of the methanol extract of Lantana camara leaves were determined on DPPH, superoxide, hydroxyl, nitric oxide radicals. Some biochemical parameters were also determined to ascertain the potential antioxidant and toxic effects of the extract. The preliminary quantitative phytochemical screening showed that the leave contain flavonoids (11.08±0.05), tannins (9.0±0.03), alkaloids (9.76±0.02), saponin(6.07±0.06), reducing sugar (4.86 ±0.05) and carbohydrate (5.08± 0.03). The extract was found to be effective scavengers against the above-mentioned free radicals. The acute toxicity test of the extracts showed no toxicity up to 5000mg/kg body weight. There was no induction of any ailment by the extract on the test rats. This study showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum catalase activities in weeks 1 and 2, followed by significant (p < 0.05)decrease in weeks 3 and 4. Significant decrease (p < 0.05) in ALT, AST and ALP were observed in all the test groups in weeks 1 to 3, but significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in all the test groups in week 4 compared to those of thecontrol group.There were significant decreases (p < 0.05) in Na+ and Cl- concentrations in all the test groups in weeks 1 and 2. In week 3, there was no significant (p > 0.05) decreases observed in the Na+ and Cl- concentration of Group 2 rats and no significant (p > 0.05) increase was observed in groups 3 and 4 rats. However, there was significant (p < 0.05) increases in Na+ and Cl-concentrationsobserved in all test groups in week 4 compared to their control. There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in K+concentrationin all test rats in week 1, in week 2, there was no significant (p > 0.05) decrease in all the test groups, while there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in K+ concentration in all the test groups in weeks 3 and 4, compared to those of their control group. Urea and creatinine concentration decreased significantly(p < 0.05) in allthe test groups in weeks 1, 2 and 3. However in week 4, there were significant (p < 0.05) increase observed in urea and creatinine concentration compared to their control. Direct and total bilirubin concentrations decreased significantly (p <0.05) in the test groups in weeks 1 and 2. However, there was significant (p <0.05) increase observed in all the test rats in weeks 3 and 4. Hb concentration and PCV count increase significantly (p < 0.05) in the test groups 3 and 4 except group 2, where there was no significant increase (p >0.05) observed in week 1 and 2. In week 3, there was nosignificant increase (p > 0.05) observed in all the test groups. However, significant decrease (p < 0.05) in Hb concentration and PCV count were observed in the entire test rats in week 4compared to those of their control group.There was significant increase (p < 0.05) in WBC level of rats in the test groups both in weeks 1 and 2, but significant (p < 0.05) increase in group 2, no significant (p > 0.05) increase in group 3 and a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in group 4 was observed in week 3, while in week 4, there was significant decrease (p < 0.05) observed in WBC count in all the test groups compared to their control. Random blood sugar (RBS)decreasessignificantly(p < 0.05) in all the test groups in weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4. The histological analysis of liver and kidney tissues showed remarkable changes, which is an indication that the extract showed some level of toxicity at the chronic phase (beyond 14 days of administration). These results suggest that the extract contains antioxidants, which mop up free radicals and are toxic to the liver and kidney tissue following a prolonged administration.

The plant kingdom offers a wide range of natural antioxidant and medicinal values. The antioxidant and toxicological effects of the methanol extract of Lantana camara leaves were determined on DPPH, superoxide, hydroxyl, nitric oxide radicals. Some biochemical parameters were also determined to ascertain the potential antioxidant and toxic effects of the extract. The preliminary quantitative phytochemical screening showed that the leave contain flavonoids (11.08±0.05), tannins (9.0±0.03), alkaloids (9.76±0.02), saponin(6.07±0.06), reducing sugar (4.86 ±0.05) and carbohydrate (5.08± 0.03). The extract was found to be effective scavengers against the above-mentioned free radicals. The acute toxicity test of the extracts showed no toxicity up to 5000mg/kg body weight. There was no induction of any ailment by the extract on the test rats. This study showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum catalase activities in weeks 1 and 2, followed by significant (p < 0.05)decrease in weeks 3 and 4. Significant decrease (p < 0.05) in ALT, AST and ALP were observed in all the test groups in weeks 1 to 3, but significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in all the test groups in week 4 compared to those of thecontrol group.There were significant decreases (p < 0.05) in Na+ and Cl- concentrations in all the test groups in weeks 1 and 2. In week 3, there was no significant (p > 0.05) decreases observed in the Na+ and Cl- concentration of Group 2 rats and no significant (p > 0.05) increase was observed in groups 3 and 4 rats. However, there was significant (p < 0.05) increases in Na+ and Cl-concentrationsobserved in all test groups in week 4 compared to their control. There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in K+concentrationin all test rats in week 1, in week 2, there was no significant (p > 0.05) decrease in all the test groups, while there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in K+ concentration in all the test groups in weeks 3 and 4, compared to those of their control group. Urea and creatinine concentration decreased significantly(p < 0.05) in allthe test groups in weeks 1, 2 and 3. However in week 4, there were significant (p < 0.05) increase observed in urea and creatinine concentration compared to their control. Direct and total bilirubin concentrations decreased significantly (p <0.05) in the test groups in weeks 1 and 2. However, there was significant (p <0.05) increase observed in all the test rats in weeks 3 and 4. Hb concentration and PCV count increase significantly (p < 0.05) in the test groups 3 and 4 except group 2, where there was no significant increase (p >0.05) observed in week 1 and 2. In week 3, there was nosignificant increase (p > 0.05) observed in all the test groups. However, significant decrease (p < 0.05) in Hb concentration and PCV count were observed in the entire test rats in week 4compared to those of their control group.There was significant increase (p < 0.05) in WBC level of rats in the test groups both in weeks 1 and 2, but significant (p < 0.05) increase in group 2, no significant (p > 0.05) increase in group 3 and a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in group 4 was observed in week 3, while in week 4, there was significant decrease (p < 0.05) observed in WBC count in all the test groups compared to their control. Random blood sugar (RBS)decreases significantly(p < 0.05) in all the test groups in weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4. The histological analysis of liver and kidney tissues showed remarkable changes, which is an indication that the extract showed some level of toxicity at the chronic phase (beyond 14 days of administration). These results suggest that the extract contains antioxidants, which mop up free radicals and are toxic to the liver and kidney tissue following a prolonged administration.