Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: The protective effects of an ethanolic extract of the flower of Trollius ledebourii on DNA damage caused by potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) in mouse peripheral lymphocytes were investigated using single cell gel electrophoresis. The results showed that acute or chronic treatment with the extract of T. ledebourii (0.03, 0.1, and 0.29 g/kg, p.o.) produced no genotoxicity. DNA damage in lymphocytes induced by K2Cr2O7 (20 mg/kg, i.p.), a contaminant of many environmental systems, was significantly suppressed by the extract. The extract prevented a K2Cr2O7 -induced reduction in plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities. Moreover, the extract showed potent scavenging activity of H2O2/Fe2+-induced •OH in vitro. These data indicate that the protective effects of T. ledebourii may be associated with its anti-oxidative effects by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and reducing •OH formation, suggesting a beneficial effect of T. ledebourii with regard to protection against the oxidative impairment of chromium.

Key words: Trollius ledebourii, potassium dichromate, single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, hydroxyl radical