%0 Journal Article
%T Antioxidant Potential of a Polyherbal Antimalarial as an Indicator of Its Therapeutic Value
%A Protus Arrey Tarkang
%A Achille Parfait Nwachiban Atchan
%A Jules-Roger Kuiate
%A Faith Apoelot Okalebo
%A Anastasia Nkatha Guantai
%A Gabriel Agbor Agbor
%J Advances in Pharmacological Sciences
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/678458
%X Nefang is a polyherbal product composed of Mangifera indica (bark and leaf), Psidium guajava, Carica papaya, Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus sinensis, and Ocimum gratissimum (leaves), used for the treatment of malaria. Compounds with antioxidant activity are believed to modulate plasmodial infection. Antioxidant activity of the constituent aqueous plants extracts, in vitro, was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic content (TPC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods and, in vivo, Nefang (100 and 500£¿mg£¿kg£¿1) activity was evaluated in carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stressed Wistar rats. Superoxide dismutase, catalase activities, and lipid peroxidation by the malondialdehyde and total proteins assays were carried out. P. guajava, M. indica leaf, and bark extracts had the highest antioxidant properties in all three assays, with no statistically significant difference. Rats treated with the carbon tetrachloride had a statistically significant decrease in levels of triglycerides, superoxide dismutase, and catalase ( ) and increase in malondialdehyde activity, total protein levels, and liver and renal function markers, whereas rats treated with Nefang showed increased levels in the former and dose-dependent decrease towards normal levels in the later. These results reveal the constituent plants of Nefang that contribute to its in vivo antioxidant potential. This activity is a good indication of the therapeutic potential of Nefang. 1. Introduction Molecular oxygen is an indispensable element for the life of aerobic organisms because it enables the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which in small quantities are essential for many physiological processes. At high doses, the ROS are very toxic [1]. The main ROS in humans are superoxide anion , hydrogen peroxide , radical hydroxide and the reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and nitric monoxide (NO). These are constantly generated within the cells upon exposure to xenobiotics, pollutants, ultraviolet rays, smoke, and some endogenous metabolites of the redox and respiratory chain during transfer of electrons [2]. Under normal physiological conditions, there is equilibrium between levels of intracellular ROS and the endogenous antioxidant system. The endogenous antioxidant system is composed of enzymes such as the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH). Over production of ROS beyond the antioxidant capacity of the physiological system gives way to oxidative stress. Excessive oxidative stress leads to
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aps/2013/678458/