Antioxidant and Pulmonary Protective Potential of Fraxinus xanthoxyloides Bark Extract against CCl4-Induced Toxicity in Rats

Fraxinus xanthoxyloides is a perennial shrub belonging to family Oleaceae, traditionally used for malaria, jaundice, pneumonia, inflammation, and rheumatism. Our study is aimed to assess the total phenolics (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), terpenoids contents (TTC) and antioxidant profiling of F. xanthoxyloides methanol bark extract (FXBM) and its fractions, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous, along with high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). Further, the antioxidant and pulmonary protective potential was explored against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced CCl4-induced pulmonary tissue damage in rats. The highest TPC, TFC and TTC were found in FXBM (133.29 +/- 4.19 mg/g), ethyl acetate fraction (279.55 +/- 10.35 mg/g), and chloroform fraction (0.79 +/- 0.06 mg/g), respectively. The most potent antioxidant capacity was depicted by FXBM (29.21 +/- 2.40 mu g/mg) and ethyl acetate fraction (91.16 +/- 5.51 mu g/mg). The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the predominance of gallic, chlorogenic, vanillic and ferulic acid in FXBM. The administration of CCl4 induced oxidative stress, suppressed antioxidant enzymes ' activities including catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione reductase. Further, it increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and H2O2 levels, induced DNA injuries and reduced the total protein and glutathione content in lung tissues. The treatment of rats with FXBM restored these biochemical parameters to the normal level. Moreover, the histopathological studies of lung tissues demonstrated that FXBM protected rats ' lung tissues from oxidative damage restoring normal lung functions. Thus, F. xanthoxyloides bark extract is recommended as adjuvant therapy as protective agent for patients with lung disorders.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and pulmonary protective potential of Fraxinus xanthoxyloides bark extract and its fractions. The highest total phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenoids contents were found in the methanol bark extract, ethyl acetate fraction, and chloroform fraction, respectively. The most potent antioxidant capacity was shown by the methanol bark extract and ethyl acetate fraction. The administration of carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress and lung tissue damage, but treatment with the bark extract restored these parameters to normal levels and protected the lung tissues.