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Phytochemical, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of Delonix regia leaves extract

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Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma is considered the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Thus, the present study was designed to test for the first time the putative cytotoxic effect of Delonix regia extract, besides its hepatoprotective activity. In this context, this study targets four specific aims; first, the phytochemical investigation of D. regia extract which led to the isolation of seven flavonoid glycosides; Kaempferol 3-rhamnoside 1, Quercetin 3-rhamnoside 2, Kaempferol 3-glucoide 3, Kaempferol 3-rutinoside 4, Kaempferol 3-neohesperidoside 5, Quercetin 3-rutinoside 6 and Quercetin 3-glucoside 7. Second, the evaluation of in vitro cytotoxic activity of the extract, where the extract exhibited a potent cytotoxic effect against HepG2 cell line. Third, the hepatoprotective activity was investigated using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury. The plant extract at dose of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight reduced serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase as well as total and direct bilirubin in a dose dependent manner. The fourth aim was the investigation of the antioxidant activity of the extract as the treatment of rats with the extract at different doses significantly increased the liver tissue level of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and total antioxidant capacity and decreased the level of malondialdehyde as compared to CCl4 treated group. The current findings concluded that the extract of D. regia possessed not only a significant anticancer effect against HepG2 cells, but also an effective and a dose dependent hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities due to the presence of flavonoids content.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Dr. Mahmoud M. El-Hammamy, Professor of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt, for his valuable help in the istopathological examination. Also they acknowledge Prof. Dr Abdel Salam El Noyehy, Prof. of Taxonomy, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt for authentication the leaves of D. regia.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest relevant to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Samar S. Azab

  2. Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

    Mohamed Abdel-Daim

  3. Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Omayma A. Eldahshan

Authors
  1. Samar S. Azab
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  2. Mohamed Abdel-Daim
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  3. Omayma A. Eldahshan
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Correspondence to Omayma A. Eldahshan.

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Samar S. Azab and Mohamed Abdel-Daim authors equally contributed to this study.

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Azab, S.S., Abdel-Daim, M. & Eldahshan, O.A. Phytochemical, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of Delonix regia leaves extract. Med Chem Res 22, 4269–4277 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-012-0420-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-012-0420-4

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