Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Rosa damascena

Abstract

The fresh juice of Rosa damascena Mill. flower exhibited promising in vitro antioxidant potential. The partially purified acetone fraction (AF) from silica gel column chromatography was found to be the active fraction with antioxidant properties. The AF required for 50% inhibition of superoxide radical production, hydroxyl radical generation and lipid peroxide formation were 13.75, 135 and 410μg/ml, respectively. Oral administration of AF at 50mg/kg body weight significantly reduced the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamine pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamine oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activity and lipid peroxide level in rats receiving an acute dose of CCl4. This indicated that R. damascena could protect against CCl 4 induced hepatotoxicity, possibly by its free radical scavenging activity.