Assessment of the antioxidant potential of Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) extract in vitro and in vivo experiments on hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant assays and in vivo non enzymatic antioxidant potential of aerial parts of Pergularia daemia methanolic extract (PDME) on 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis. Methods: The plant extract was tested for their total phenol and flavonoid content and radical scavenging effect such as 2, 2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS^•+) radical decolorization assay, DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl, 2-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging, nitric oxide radical scavenging, reducing power assays. Results: According to IC₅₀values obtained, PDME contains more powerful antioxidant compounds than gallic acid. The level of plasma vitamin C and the levels of Vitamin E and GSH in the plasma and erythrocyte lysate were decreased while the buccal tissue levels of vitamin E and GSH were increased in DMBA induced animals. Pretreatment with P.daemia (200 mg/kg bw) to DMBA induced animals significantly (P < 0.05) increased the levels of plasma and erythrocyte vitamin C, vitamin E and GSH where as the levels of vitamin E and GSH in the buccal tissue were increased compared to DMBA alone induced animals. Conclusions: The PDME exhibited strong antioxidant activity in free radical scavenging assays and hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.