In vitro investigation of phytochemicals, Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective activity of Selaginella bryopteris
Abstract
The present study investigated the total phenolic content, free radical scavenging activity and hepatoprotective effect of Selaginella bryopteris (SB) against acetaminophen (APAP) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity on HepG2 cell lines. The preliminary phytochemicals screening of SB aqueous and ethanolic extract confirmed the presence of phytochemical constituents and total phenolic contents. Both extracts exhibited radical scavenging activities in dose dependent manner (100-500 μg/mL). The maximum concentration (500 μg/mL) showed highest DPPH, ABTS and H2O2 free radical scavenging activity in ethanolic extract of SB followed by aqueous extract. Hepatoprotective activity was assessed by MTT assay which confirmed that SB extracts at three doses (25μg/mL, 50μg/mL and 100μg/mL) appeared to have considerable cellular protection (72- 88%) against CCl4 and APAP induced toxicity in HepG2 cell line in dose-dependent manner. At 100μg/mL, the cell viability rate was found to be higher in SB ethanolic extract compared to the aqueous extract. No adverse effect was observed in the SB treated HepG2 cell line. LDH leakage assay also confirmed that SB extract significantly reduced the level of cellular LDH leakage into the cell culture medium. The results indicate that Selaginella bryopteris extract has significant hepatoprotective activity against APAP and CCL4-inducedtoxicity which might be due to its free radical scavenging activity.