RESUMO
Seaweeds are sources of bioactive compounds with medicinal properties, which make them attractive candidates for natural therapeutic agents. Marine brown algae are known to possess anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer properties, etc. Present study was carried out to identify the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Sargassum prismaticum in two different solvents viz., chloroform and methanol. Chloroform was found to be the superior solvent for phenol and flavonoid extraction. Antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH and ABTS assays; however, the methanolic extract demonstrated better antioxidant potential. The highest cell cytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 7.6 ± 0.02 µg/mL was observed in methanolic extract, while the chloroform extract had an IC50 value of 9.6 ± 0.03 µg/mL against U937 cell line. These finding suggest that Sargassum prismaticum possesses potent antioxidant and cytotoxic properties, making it a potential candidate for further study as a novel antioxidant drug source.
RESUMO
Cadmium, a highly toxic heavy metal, can cause severe damage to several vital organs including the kidney, liver, and brain. Many of the natural compounds found in aromatic plants have beneficial pharmacological properties. Eugenol is one such compound reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study is to investigate whether eugenol, a natural compound found in aromatic plants known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, can mitigate the detrimental effects of cadmium exposure on cardiac inflammation, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia. Male albino rats were subjected to randomization into four groups, each comprising six animals, to investigate the potential of eugenol in mitigating cadmium-induced toxicity. All groups received oral gavage treatment for 21 days. Following the treatment regimen, cardiac tissue specimens were collected for analysis. The assessment of cardiac antioxidant status entailed the determination of enzymatic activities including catalase, SOD, GST, and GPx. Additionally, levels of lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, protein carbonyl oxidation, and thiol levels were quantified in the cardiac tissue samples. To evaluate cardiac damage, marker enzymes such as LDH and CK-MB were measured. Furthermore, the inflammatory response in the cardiac tissue induced by cadmium exposure was assessed through the quantification of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. Additionally, molecular docking and dynamics studies were conducted utilizing autodock and GLIDE methodologies. Cadmium administration markedly enhanced the activities of LDH and CK-MB, prominent cardiac markers. Furthermore, cadmium treatment also demonstrated a significant decrease in the reduced glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. Significant elevation of the inflammatory markers was also observed in the cadmium-treated group. Eugenol treatment effectively ameliorates cadmium-induced biochemical changes. This study underscores the potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant attributes of eugenol. Co-administration of eugenol alongside cadmium exhibited remarkable protective efficacy against cadmium-induced cardio-toxicity. Eugenol demonstrated the capability to reinstate the cellular redox equilibrium of rats subjected to cadmium treatment to levels akin to those of the normal control group.