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Vitex peduncularis, a well-known herbal anti-oxidant, has emerged as a potential candidate to ameliorate cellular damage caused due to hypoxia. Formation of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde (MDA) and altered level of GSH, GSSG, GPx, GR, and SOD is common during hypoxic stress. N2a cells exposed to hypoxia showed an increase in oxidative damage with enhanced levels of ROS, MDA, GSSG and reduced levels of GSH, GR, and SOD. In the present study, different extracts of V. peduncularis i.e. (methanol, chloroform, hexane and benzene) were observed in mitigating oxidative stress in murine neuroblastoma-N2a cell line. The V. peduncularis chloroform extract (VPC) was found best in reducing ROS generation. Treatment with VPC significantly restored the levels of GSH, GSSG, SOD and GR in N2a cells under hypoxic conditions. The anti-oxidant activities of VPC were further confirmed by checking expression of anti-oxidative genes, HIF-1α, metallothionine and haemeoxygenase-1 as markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodiola sp. (R. heterodanta and R. imbricata), belonging to the stone crop family Crassulaceae, is an important medicinal plant and food crop in Trans-Himalayan cold desert. It is a well known medicinal plant in the Amchi system of medicine (Tibetan system of medicine) being used in various ailments like anti-stress, radio-protective, anticancer, anti-inflammatory agent, adaptogen etc. Hydro- alcoholic extracts of Rhodiola sp. root and shoot were investigated in the present study to quantify total Phenolic as well as anti-oxidant activity. Total phenolic contents were determined as total flavonoids (TF), and total polyphenols (TPP). Rhodiola heterodanta root extract had highest amount of total phenol and flavonoids are found to be 79.21±.26 mg GAE/g and 269.3±.82mg Qc/g respectively. In vitro antioxidant activity was investigated by DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power assay. R. imbricata hydro-alcoholic root extract showed the highest reducing power and DPPH. radical scavenging. A significant correlation existed between concentrations of the extract and percentage inhibition of free radicals and reducing power. These results clearly indicate that Rhodiola sp. are effective against free radical mediated diseases and also helpful to draw special attention for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]