Polyphenol content, antioxidant, antihemolytic and anticoagulant potentials of Ammodaucus leucotrichus seed extracts

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic potentials of different extracts from Ammodaucus leucotrichus seeds through various in vitro antioxidant assays.Methods: Seeds of Ammodaucus leucotrichus were subjected to liquid-liquid scale extraction using solvents of varying polarities. Polyphenols and flavonoids were evaluated in these extracts using colorimetric methods. Antioxidant potential was investigated through established in vitro assays including free radical scavenging potency against DPPH, & beta;-carotene bleaching assay for lipid peroxidation, chelating, and transition metal reducing assays. Antihemolytic, antithrombotic, and anticoagulant activities were also determined.Results: Maximum amount of total phenolics and flavonoids were recorded in crude extract (CrE). Ethyl acetate extract (EAE) possessed the highest scavenging activity against DPPH radical (p < 0.05) while the aqueous extract showed significant ferrous ion chelation among the extracts with EC50 equal to 0.883 & PLUSMN; 0.019 mg/mL. EAE exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in & beta;-carotene/linoleic acid (81.99 & PLUSMN; 2.942 %), and ferric reducing (EC50 = 0.116 & PLUSMN; 0.002 mg/mL) assays. The 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) oxidative action revealed that the extracts protected the erythrocyte membrane from hemolysis. Moreover, EAE and chloroform extract (ChE) increased clotting time while only EAE and CrE caused a high percentage of clot lysis when added to blood samples.Conclusion: Ammodaucus leucotrichus is a promising source of natural antioxidants, as all extracts possess significant antioxidant activities irrespective of solvent polarities.