Ameliorative role of Plectranthus esculentus on 4-vinylcyclohexene monoepoxide-induced oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Plectranthus esculentus is a plant used to relieve pain and digestive disorders. 4-Vinylcyclohexene 1,2-monoepoxide (VCM) is a toxic metabolite of 4-vinylcyclohexene. The lifespan effects of leaf varieties of P. esculentus fractions (vat-bebot, MV1) and 2 (vat-riyon, MV2) and their ameliorative effects on VCM-induced oxidative stress were evaluated in D. melanogaster. Flies were treated with vehicle (ethanol), Gallic Acid (0.1 mM), MV1 (100 mg/10 diet), MV2 (200 mg/10 diet), VCM (100 μM), (VCM+Gallic Acid), (VCM+MV1) and (VCM+MV2) in the diets for 5 days. The results indicated that MV1 and MV2 reduced the lifespan of flies without affecting the survival of flies after 7 days of treatment. P. esculentus restored VCM-induced depletion of total thiol and inhibition of glutathione S-transferase, acetylcholinesterase, and catalase activities (p < 0.05). Our results demonstrated that short term consumption of P. esculentus is beneficial and that MV1 offered better ameliorative effects than MV2.