Powders with small microparticle size from Hedera helix and Scrophularia nodosa exhibited high preventive antioxidant activity against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in mouse primary spleen cells

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of powder particle size on the cytoprotective and antioxidant activity of Hedera helix (HH) and Scrophularia nodosa (SN), two medicinal plants more commonly known as ivy and figwort, against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress in mouse primary spleen cells. Thus, the preventive effects of powders of 3 different granulometric classes (50-100 μm, 100-180 μm and 180-315 μm) and those of the hydroethanolic (HE) extract from HH and SN on oxidative stress were compared by monitoring reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and the activity of enzymatic antioxidants including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Results showed that pretreatment with the 3 fine powders from both plants generally offered to H 2 O 2 -exposed spleen cells, a protection against oxidative stress, highlighted by a significant decrease of both ROS formation and the level of MDA ( p p p p < 0.01). Compared to untreated cells, our results suggest that pretreatment with powders, in particular the superfine fractions, has relatively restored the levels of antioxidant-related enzymes including GPx, CAT and SOD. In summary, our results suggest differential effects between the 3 different fine powders studied, with the best cytoprotective and antioxidant activities being in favor of the superfine powders.