Article: ELEPHANTOPUS SCABER LINN. ENHANCES MEMBRANE STABILITY IN HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES IN IN VITRO MODELS

Article Category: Original Research articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.096172

Pages: 53-63

Author: Benil P.B *, Indu A, Rajakrishnan R, Al Farahan, Sami Al Obaid

Abstract: Blood is the medium that provides nourishment and oxygen to the tissues. Some xenobiotics entering blood can destruct RBCs.  Human erythrocytes are uniquely designed to overcome this with its lipid bilayer membrane. Phyto-chemicals influence the stability of RBC membranes.  Medicinal plants with antitoxic properties maybe helpful.  Elephantopus scaber Linn., a common herb mentioned in traditional medical systems like Ayurveda in the context of toxicity.  It is distributed in tropical areas of Africa, America and Asia.  The methanolic extracts at doses 480, 240, 120, 60 and 30 mcg/ml were studied for erythrocyte membrane stabilization against Acetyl Salicylic Acid (ASA) in RBCs collected from healthy volunteers, for the parameters Osmotic fragility, hypotonic saline induced hemolysis, heat induced hemolysis, hemoglobin release assay and anti-inflammatory effect by membrane stabilization effect. Antioxidant property of the drug to prevent lipid peroxidation by preventing the formation of conjugated-diene was also studied.  The results showed significant dose dependent membrane stabilization activity for the drug compared to Aspirin.  The results were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Dunnett’s multiple comparison tests. The study concludes that Elephantopus scaber Linn.methanolic extract significantly enhances the erythrocyte membrane stability and it provides hope against xenobiotic induced hemolysis.

Keyword: Elephantopus scaber, Erythrocyte membrane, RBC membrane, membrane stabilization, osmotic fragility, hemolysis, conjugated diene, anti-inflammatory