Full Length Research Paper

Biological and pharmacological effects of Delphinium elbursense

Ebrahimzadeh M. A¹, Nabavi S. F^1,2, Nabavi S. M^1,3, Mahmoudi M¹, Eslami B⁴ and Dehpour A. A⁴*

¹Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.

²Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.

³Department of Biology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

⁴Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Ghaemshahr Branch, Iran.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: dehpour@gmail.com. Tel. +98-123-2145048.

Abbreviations: DPPH, Diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl; BHA, butylhydroxyanisole; BHT, butylhydroxytoluene; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; i.p., interperitoneal; AD,  Alzheimer's disease.

Accepted 16 July, 2010

   Abstract

Antidepressant, antihypoxic and antioxidant activities of aerial parts of Delphinium elbursense were investigated employing nine various assay systems. Antidepessant activity was examined by using forced swimming test and tail suspension test in mice. The extracts at all tested doses show significant activity as compared to control group. Antihypoxic activity was investigated in two models, haemic and circulatory. The effects were pronounced and dose-dependent in both model of hypoxia. Extracts showed weak antioxidant activity in some models. IC₅₀ for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity was 116.2 ± 5.6 mg ml^-1. Extracts showed nitric oxide-scavenging activity between 0.1 and 1.6 mg ml^-1 (IC₅₀ = 502.3 ± 18 mg ml^-1) and a very weak Fe²⁺ chelating ability (IC₅₀ = 1.01 ± 0.03 mg ml^-1). It also exhibited low antioxidant activity in hemoglobin-induced peroxidation of linoleic acid but was capable of scavenging hydrogen peroxide in a concentration dependent manner. Extract show antihemolytic activity againts hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) induced hemolysis (558.7 ± 31 mg ml^-1). The total phenolic compounds in extract were determined as gallic acid equivalents (52.24 ± 1.7) and total flavonoid contents were calculated as quercetin equivalents (17.26 ± 0.6) from a calibration curve.

Key words: Antidepressant, antihypoxic, Delphinium elbursense, flavonoid contents, forced swimming test, medicinal plants, phenolic contents, tail suspension test.