In vitro callus induction and in vivo antioxidant activity of Passiflora foetida L. leaves

Summary: Callus was induced efficiently from the leaf explants of Passiflora foetida L. (Passion fruit) on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 2 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.5 mg/l kinetin (KN) after 16 days. Maximum callus (65% response, 610 mg fresh weight and 55 mg dry weight) was formed on MS medium supplemented with low sucrose and salt concentration than that of high sucrose and salt concentration. The crude ethanolic extract prepared from the callus of Passiflora foetida L. leaf showed significant (P< 0.05) in vivo antioxidant activity in CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity model in rats. After 14 days oral feeding of the ethanolic extract (200 and 500 mg/kg b.wt) resulted in the significant (P< 0.05) reduction of serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatic thiobarbutiric acid reacting substances (TBARS) levels which were elevated by CCl4 challenge in rats. Antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) levels and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in liver were increased significantly (P< 0.05) which were reduced by CCl4 challenge in rats.Industrial relevance: CCl4 is a well established hepatotoxin. It induces chronic and acute injuries not only in liver also in kidneys, heart and brain. In this study, the hepatoprotective effects of ethanolic extract from the callus of Passiflora foetida leaves were studied and results were found very promising. To day a vast number of drugs are developed from plants possessing excellent therapeutic potential and less side effects compared to synthetic drugs which cause toxicity in various organs. Isolation and characterization of active principle from this extract could lead to the development of effective therapeutic drug in industry for the treatment of hepatic injury.