Influence of Extraction Method on Antioxidant and Nitric Oxide-Stimulating Activity of Herbal Mixtures in Human Endothelial Cells

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role as main vasodilator. Aging and oxidative stress are the risk factors on reduction of NO bioavailability. These lead to endothelial dysfunction which is an early marker for atherosclerosis. In this study, three herbal mixtures from Moringa oleifera, Butea superbaand Kaempferia parviflora were designed, namely CF-1, CF-2 and CF-3, and extracted by maceration and reflux extraction method. The biological activities were used as parameters for comparison of extraction techniques. These extracts were determined antioxidant activity by using DPPH radical scavenging assay and TNF-a-induced intracellular ROS generation in human endothelial cells. NO-producing activity of the herbal mixtures were also investigated in endothelial cells. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of herbal mixtures was significantly greater for maceration in comparison to reflux extraction. Antioxidant and NO-producing activity in endothelial cells of extracts prepared by maceration was similar to that of refluxing. Thus the maceration might be the suitable extraction technique for bringing out the potential of herbal mixture on improvement of endothelial function and preliminary preventing atherosclerosis.