Vigna unguiculata Aqueous Leaf Extract Ameliorates Oxidative Stress Induced RBC and Tissue Damage Via Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities

Abstract

Aims: Aim of the study was to characterize the phytochemicals present in Aqueous Extract of Cow pea leaves (AECPL) and evaluates its protective role in oxidative stress induced tissue damage via anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Study Design: The experiment setup involved the phytochemical screening and characterization, assessment of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.  Oxidative stress markers analysis (in-vitro and in-vivo) and histopathological studies.  Methodology: The GC-MS study was carried out to enumerate the probable phytochemicals, the radical scavenging assay was conducted by DPPH(2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, further antioxidant ability was confirmed by in-vitro and in-vivo study as an indicator of elevated level of oxidative stress markers using RBCs and animal models. The tissue protective efficiency of AECPL was enumerated in Sprague Dawley rat’s model. Anti-inflammatory activity of AECPL was identified using protein denaturation and protease inhibition assays. Non-toxic property was examined using hemolytic assay. Results: The AECPL showed long array of phytochemicals such as, proteins, terpenoids, alcohols, phenols, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, carbohydrates and glycosides. AECPL exhibited DPPH radical scavenging ability (75 %). AECPL further normalized the oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC), total thiol (TT) and antioxidant levels such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) in both in-vivo and in-vitro models. AECPL protected Diclofenac induced tissue damage of vital organs and regulated tissue specific biochemical markers.  Further, AECPL ameliorates the effect of inflammation by reducing the denaturation of BSA protein (82.77 %) and egg albumin (80 %). Conclusion: The AECPL through its free radical quenching and anti-inflammatory activities protected oxidative stress induced red blood cells and vital organs.