Protective Effect of Aqueous Root Extract of Tamarindus indica, Psidium guajava and Balanite aegyptica on Oxidatively Stressed Human Erythrocytes.

Oxidatively induced cell damage has been proposed to play an important role in the etiology of numerous pathological conditions. The present study evaluates the antioxidant potential of aqueous root extract of three selected medicinal plants Tamarindus indica, Psidium guajava and Balanite aegyptica against chemically induced oxidatively stressed human erythrocytes. Exposure of erythrocytes significantly increased lipid peroxidation and decreased the levels of glutathione and the antioxidant enzymes. When treated with the root extract (1.5mg/ml, 3mg/ml and 6mg/ml) it could effectively inhibit lipid peroxidation and enhance the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and glutathione content significantly. The observed results indicate that the cytoprotection may be due to its direct free radical scavenging activity and thereby modulating the antioxidant defence system and preserving the functional integrity of the erythrocytes. Keywords: Antioxidant Potential, Aqueous Root Extract, Erythrocyte Human.