Cytoprotective activity of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner) leaf extracts on the mouse embryonic fibroblast cell

This study was conducted to evaluate the cytoprotective activity of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner) leaf extract (LLE) on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. The 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities of LLE increased in a concentration dependent manner. The cells, damaged by oxidative stress, decreased their viability following increasing concentration of H2O2, but the co-treatment of n-butanol fraction of LLE and H2O2 resulted in an increase in cell growth, by about 25%, compared to the cells treated with H2O2. The n-butanol fraction of LLE inhibited the cytotoxicity induced by H2O2 in a concentration dependent manner. The oxidative damage to the cells, measured by apoptotic and necrotic cell accumulation, was similar with the addition of the n-butanol fraction of LLE to H2O2. Taken together, these results suggest that LLE inhibited the cytotoxicity which is induced by H2O2, and has a protective effect on MEF cell against oxidative stress.