Antioxidant In Vivo, In Vitro Activity Assessment and Acute Toxicity of Aqueous Extract of Gomphrena Celosioides (Amaranthaceae)

Oxidative stress, an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their cellular detoxification by
antioxydants.ROS cause oxidation of membrane phospholipids, proteins and DNA Many plants possess antioxidant ingredients that provided efficacy by additive or synergistic activities. Gomphrena celosioides (Amaranthaceae) was used for treatment of icterus, and malaria in Africa. In this study, we evaluated the in vivo, in vitro antioxidant activity and acute toxicity effects of Gomphrena celosioides(Gc). Acute toxicity study was undertaken on 48 rats using 100 to 4000 mg kgı1 of Gc. In vivo antioxidant activity was determined, 20 Rabbits were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals. Group 1 to 2 received Gc 100-200 mg kg–1 per by intraperitoneally during 3days. Group 3 received vitamin C (10 mg kg–1 per day) as a reference antioxidant for comparison. Group4 was treated as control and received only saline (NaCl 0.9%). In each group, a blood sample was taken on the first day (J0) before the extract injection and then after extract injection at days 3(J3), 6 (J6), J9 (J9) and 12 (J12). The DL50 is 1000 mg/kg. The total phenolic contents = 3.44 ± 0.50 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE) /g content while flavonoid = 9.91 ± 0.45 mg Quercetin Equivalent (QE/g). The aqueous extracts of the plant showed strong free radical scavenging activity, reducing power and antioxidant activity. In in vivo Gc possesses strong reducing power similar to vitamin C and lipid peroxidation inhibition effect to J6 and J9 and the vitamin C to J6.
This study in vitro suggests that the aqueous extract of Gc possesses a strong free radical scavenging activity, a low reducing power and a strong inhibition power of lipid peroxydation compared with the vitamin C. Furthermore in vivo, the reducing powers and inhibition of the lipid peroxydation of Gc were observed as the vitamin C. Finally, the weak toxicity and antioxidant activity of the Gc extract observed in vitro and vivo could be used in the management of inflammatory diseases and in the fight against stress oxidant.