Chemo-mapping and biochemical-modulatory and antioxidant/prooxidant effect of Galium verum extract during acute restraint and dark stress in female rats

PLoS One. 2018 Jul 3;13(7):e0200022. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200022. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Galium verum is a well-known medicinal plant which is used in various pathologies. G. verum extracts are characterized here using chromatography, where among the rich pool of phenolic acids of flavonoids two known anti-stress modulators, chlorogenic acid and rutin are identified in high quantities. Additionally, the extracts are characterized using a series of in vitro assays (EPR, DPPH, TPC and TEAC). Considering the chemical findings, the potential beneficial effects of the G. verum extract are explored here in a living organism exposed to stress induced oxidative damages. Thus, the biochemical-modulatory and antioxidant roles of two doses of G. verum extract are examined in animals exposed to acute restraint and dark stress (S). The animals were divided in groups [control, S, SG1 (exposed to 25 mg G. verum extract), SG2 (50 mg extract)]. Increased levels of lipid peroxidation (TBARS from 4.43 to 8.06 nmol/mL), corticosterone from 0.43 to 1.96 μg/dL and epinephrine from 44.43 to 126.7 μg/mL, as well as decreased antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD/CAT) were observed in the S group. The G. verum extract afforded a near-normal equilibrium within the biochemical parameters of animals exposed to RS, by reducing oxidative damage (TBARS at a 3.73 nmol/mL; CS at 0.90 μg/dL; EP at 63.72 μg/mL) and by restoring the antioxidant balance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Corticosterone / blood
  • Darkness / adverse effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Epinephrine / blood
  • Female
  • Galium / chemistry*
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Polyphenols / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / pharmacology*
  • Restraint, Physical / psychology*
  • Stress, Psychological / blood
  • Stress, Psychological / enzymology
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology
  • Stress, Psychological / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Plant Extracts
  • Polyphenols
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Cholesterol
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Corticosterone
  • Epinephrine

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by the Institute of Biological Research Cluj-Napoca, branch of National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences Bucuresti, Romania (RNASRI grant number PN 16 19/22.02.2016 - BIODIVERS). ADF and ACM acknowledge the CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-2555 for financial support.