Antioxidant potential and in vitro cytotoxicity study of Saraca indica extract on lead-induced toxicity in HepG2 and HEK293 cell lines

Abstract

Saraca indica is an important medicinal plant and the compounds present in this plant are very much helpful in preventing various diseases. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant activity and in vitro investigation of S. indica extract on lead-induced toxicity in HepG2 and HEK293 cell lines. The antioxidant assay was performed by two methods such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation scavenging assay. MTT assay was used for in vitro cytotoxic activity of human hepatocellular liver cell (HepG2) and human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cell lines. IC₅₀ values of the DPPH radical scavenging assay for aqueous and ethanolic extracts were 380 and 350 µg/mL, respectively. IC₅₀ values of ABTS⁺ radical cation scavenging assay for aqueous and ethanolic extracts were 200 and 350 µg/mL, respectively. Cell viability for HepG2 and HEK293 cell lines was found to be 50% at 800 µg/mL concentration for aqueous extract and 1000 µg/mL for ethanolic extract. Data obtained from the MTT assay indicated that S. indica extract significantly increased the viability of the HepG2 and HEK293 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of S. indica are involved in the protection against lead-induced toxicity. Therefore, S. indica extract may be used as a salvage therapy for lead-induced toxicity. Further studies are required to isolate the bioactive compounds from plants for advanced investigation.