Studies on the Protective Effect of Smilax Zeylanica Linn on the Oxidative Stress Induced Hepatocarcinogenesis Lung Carcinogenesis Diabetes and Parkinsonism

Abstract

Smilax zeylanica Linn, known for its use in many indigenous system of medicine is evaluated for its cytoprotective role in chemically induced oxidative stress in various in-vitro and in-vivo models. The powdered leaves were extracted with solvents of increasing polarity and the extracts were subjected to qualitative, quantitative analysis, in-vitro free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities. The extracts were screened for in-vitro cytoprotective and in-vitro cytotoxicity activity in cell line models. It was observed that methanol extract was potent in qualitative, quantitative, free radical scavenging, antioxidant activity and in-vitro cytoprotective and cytotoxic studies. The methanol extract was subjected to invivo evaluation of possible protective role against chemically induced oxidative stress models of hepatocarcinogenesis, lung carcinogenesis, diabetes and parkinsonism. It was observed that methanol extract of Smilax zeylanica leaves possessed chemopreventive role in N-nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatocarcinogenesis, Benzo[a]pyrene induced lung carcinogenesis and a potential role in control of diabetes and parkinsonism by modulating the oxidant-antioxidant status. To conclude, the present investigation shows the protective effect of Smilax zeylanica leaf extract against chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis, lung carcinogenesis, diabetes and parkinsonism. The ultimate protection by Smilax zeylanica leaves might be mediated by multiple mechanism, which includes alleviating lipid peroxidation through scavenging of free radicals, by enhancing the activity of antioxidants, which then detoxify free radicals, restoration of detoxifying enzymes, interfering with the metabolic activation of chemical to form reactive metabolites, inhibiting the uptake of reactive metabolite, preventing the nucleophilic sites of DNA. Other mechanisms in the modulation of chemically induced damage may also be simultaneously operative. The methanol extract of Smilax zeylanica leaves is found to be rich in phenolics, tannins and flavonoids.