Antioxidant properties of Elaeagnus umbellata berry solvent extracts against lipid peroxidation in mice brain and liver tissues

Elaeagnus umbellata is a plant that grows in the hilly areas of Pakistan. Free radical scavenging activities and anti-lipid peroxidative properties of hot water, methanol, n-hexane, and acetone extracts of E. umbellata berries were evaluated. Extracts showed inhibition against thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) induced using the pro-oxidants iron (10 mu M FeSO4) and sodium nitroprusside (5 mu M) in brain and liver homogenates of mice. Extracts also showed metal chelating activities of IC50 (extract concentration that causes 50% scavenging)=40-43 mu g/mL and DPPH radical scavenging activities of IC50=45.4-49 mu g/mL. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of gallic, vanillic, coumaric, ferulic, sinapic, and caffeic acids in berries. The fruit of E. umbellata is a potential source of antioxidants with therapeutic importance.