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.