Phenolic composition, antioxidant and anti-fibrotic effects of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Agastya) – An edible medicinal plant

BACKGROUND: Sesbania grandiflora (S. grandiflora/Agastya) is an edible Indian traditional medicinal plant widely used as dietary supplements and possesses various pharmacological activities. AIMS: The aim is to evaluate aqueous ethanol extract of S. grandiflora leaves and flowers for its anti-oxidant and anti-proliferative and anti-fibrotic effects using activated rat hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-T6. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The antioxidant activities of these plant extracts were assessed as per the standard methods and the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were examined by folin ciocalteu reagent and colorimetric methods respectively. The anti-proliferation assay was conducted by using a cyto X cell viability assay kit. The anti-fibrotic effect was investigated by measuring the hydroxyproline content and gene expression analysis of the two main fibrogenic cytokines in activated HSC-T6 cells: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). RESULTS: The aqueous ethanol extract of S. grandiflora leaves showed the highest antioxidant activity in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings were well correlated with the total phenols and flavonoids contents. The aqueous ethanol extract of S. grandiflora leaf and flower significantly reduced the proliferation of activated HSC-T6 cells. Regarding the anti-fibrotic effect, the hydroxyproline content was significantly reduced in a concentration-dependent manner during the extract treatment. In gene expression analysis, the treatment without extracts drastically up-regulated the fibrogenic cytokines (TGF-β and α-SMA), whereas the treatment with extracts significantly reduced these alterations. CONCLUSION: Results of present study revealed the significant antioxidant potential of the aqueous ethanol extract of S. grandiflora leaves and flowers. Among two extracts, S. grandiflora leaves demonstrated greater antioxidant, anti-fibrotic capacity with lower inhibiting concentrations corresponding to 50% values than S. grandiflora flowers.