Evaluation of antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of white cabbage essential oil

Figures & data

Table 1. Major components of B. oleracea var. capitata F. alba essential oil (Bocfal EO) obtained by hydrodistillation at low pressure (200–150 mmHg) and low temperature (55–58 °C) conditions.

Peak(#)	RT (Min)	RI	Compound	Content (%)
			Organopolysulphanes (OPS)
(1)	2.26	1224	Dimethyl disulphide (DMDS)	19.29 ± 2.16
(11)	6.24	1544	Dimethyl trisulphide (DMTS)	65.43 ± 4.92
(13)	7.12	1595	Methyl pentyl disulphide	0.19 ± 0.04
(17)	10.07	1750	Allyl methyl trisulphide	0.22 ± 0.07
(19)	11.39	1818	Methyl methylthiomethyl disulphide	1.39 ± 0.24
(20)	12.89	1893	Dimethyl tetrasulphide	1.50 ± 1.01
			Isothiocyanates and indoles
(10)	5.94	1527	Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC)	4.31 ± 0.70
(14)	7.59	1621	3-Butenyl isothiocyanate	0.85 ± 0.16
(22)	17.64	2109	Indole	0.10 ± 0.01
(23)	18.04	2125	1-Methoxyindole	0.01 ± 0.00
(24)	19.38	2181	3-(Methylthio)propyl isothiocyanate	0.47 ± 0.13
(26)	25.62	2511	Butyl isothiocyanate	0.19 ± 0.05
(28)	27.67	2731	Phenylethyl isothiocyanate	0.61 ± 0.15
			Nitriles
(3)	3.21	1336	3-Butenenitrile	1.50 ± 0.23
(6)	4.03	1415	4-Methylpentanenitrile	0.16 ± 0.03
(7)	4.48	1441	2-Pentenenitrile	0.41 ± 0.06
(8)	4.83	1462	Hexanenitrile	0.14 ± 0.01
(25)	22.04	2352	Benzene;propanenitrile	0.08 ± 0.02
			Alcohols
(2)	2.94	1306	Penten-3-ol	0.51 ± 0.07
(5)	3.84	1404	2-Pentenol	0.23 ± 0.04
(9)	5.76	1516	1-Hexanol	1.32 ± 0.34
(12)	6.73	1556	2-Hexen1-ol	0.39 ± 0.10
			Aldehydes
(4)	3.67	1388	2-Hexenal	0.30 ± 0.05
(18)	10.71	1783	Heptanal	0.07 ± 0.01
(21)	14.43	1970	2,4-Decadienal	0.05 ± 0.02
			Miscellaneous
(15)	8.00	1642	3,3-Dimethylallylbromide	0.23 ± 0.03
(16)	8.60	1673	Camphor	0.04 ± 0.01
(27)	26.93	2601	Eugenol	0.03 ± 0.02

RI: retention index; RT: retention time.

Table 2. Antioxidant activity by TBARS assay.

Tested compound	TBARS – IC50 (mg/L)
Bocfal EO	0.51 ± 0.03
DMTS	3.00 ± 0.2
DMDS	No activity
AITC	3.16 ± 0.13
DADS	444.64 ± 49.57^a
BHT	0.27 ± 0.10
α-Tocopherol	2.92 ± 0.93

Results are expressed as the mean value ± SEM of experiments performed in duplicate with samples of rat brain homogenates from at least five animals.

^a Different from Bocfal EO, p < 0.05, ANOVA, Dunnett’s test.

Figure 1. Plasma cholestasis markers: enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP); total bilirubin determined in the plasma from control rats treated with their respective vehicles (VE + VTC), with Bocfal EO (Bocfal EO + VCT) or with DADS (DADS + VCT) as well as those administered the hepatotoxicant CT (VE + CT) but treated with the same compound, respectively (Bocfal EO + CT and DADS + CT). Each bar represents the mean value of experiments performed in duplicate with samples from at least four animals ± SEM. (a) Difference from the VE + VCT group and (b) from the VE + CT group, p < 0.05, Student–Newman–Keuls test.

Figure 2. Plasma and liver markers of necrosis, functionality and oxidative stress: alanine aminotransferase enzyme activity (ALT) determined in the plasma, hepatic levels of lipid peroxidation (LP) and glycogen, and catalase activity (CAT) quantified in the livers of control rats treated with their respective vehicles (VE + VTC), with Bocfal EO (Bocfal EO + VCT) or with DADS (DADS + VCT) as well as those administered the hepatotoxicant CT (VE + CT) but treated with the same compound, respectively (Bocfal EO + CT and DADS + CT). Each bar represents the mean value of experiments performed in duplicate with samples from at least four animals ± SEM. (a) Difference from the VE + VCT group and (b) from the VE + CT group, p < 0.05, Student–Newman–Keuls test.

Figure 3. Haematoxylin/eosin staining of representative liver sections from: (A) normal control rats administered vehicle (VE + VCT); (B) damaged control rats administered CT (VE + CT); (C) control rats administered Bocfal EO (Bocfal EO + VCT); (D) damaged rats administered Bocfal EO (Bocfal EO + CT); (E) control rats administered DADS (DADS + VCT) and (F) damaged rats administered DADS (DADS + CT). Central vein (CV), original magnification: 10×.