Hepatoprotective, anti-hemolytic, and anti-radical properties of cold-pressed, no-solvent, extract of bottle gourd fruit

ABSTRACT

The fruit of bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley] is known for its nutritional and nutraceutical content. The main objective of this study was to characterize the no-solvent, cold-pressed, bottle gourd extract for hepatoprotective, anti-hemolytic, anti-radical activities, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). The extract displayed resistance against cytotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride. It exhibited potent free radical scavenging activity showing IC₅₀ in 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging as 17.01 mg∙mL⁻¹, and in hydrogen peroxide scavenging as 0.22 mg∙mL⁻¹, which were comparable with those of the standards, Trolox and ascorbic acid, respectively. In the anti-hemolytic assay, the IC₅₀ values of the extract and ascorbic acid standard were 8.70 and 4.98 mg∙mL⁻¹, respectively. Under similar conditions, TPC and TFC were 39.22 µg GAE (gallic acid equivalent)∙g⁻¹ dried extract and 90.66 µg RE (rutin equivalent)∙g⁻¹ dried extract, respectively. The extract of L. siceraria exhibited hepatoprotective, anti-hemolytic and antioxidant activities establishing its use as multi-target complementary herbal drug.

KEYWORDS:

• Lagenaria siceraria
• anti-cytotoxic
• antioxidant
• liver protectant

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, for collaboration in determination of some biological activities.