Appraisal of in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity potential of cornelian cherry leaves

The antioxidant activity of the 80% methanolic extract of Cornus mas L. leaves (CMM) was evaluated by various methods both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro screening tests indicated that CMM had high antioxidant activity in terms of free radical scavenging and metal reducing activity. In vivo antioxidant activity studies in normal healthy rats demonstrated that the total antioxidant capacity of liver homogenates were increased, although no changes were observed in the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase or in the level of lipid peroxidation. Studies on CCl4-treated rats also showed that CMM restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes, lowered the level of lipid peroxidation and elevated the total antioxidant capacities of both the total blood and liver homogenates of the animals. Further activity-guided fractionation studies led to the isolation of gallic acid, a well-known antioxidant, as one of the active components.