Oxidative stress inhibition, antioxidant performance and bioactive phytochemical profile of Hyptis suaveolens

Abstract

Oxidative stress arises when the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) surpasses the capacity of biological systems to neutralize them or repair the damage through antioxidant activities. Despite the natural antioxidant defense and repair mechanisms present in humans and other organisms, continuous exposure to free radicals inevitably causes biological harm that cannot be entirely mitigated. In a recent study, the extract of Hyptis suaveolens was examined for its inhibition of oxidative stress, secondary metabolites, antioxidant properties, and antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus (NCIB 8588), Bacillus cereus (NCIB 6349), Klebsiella pneumoniae (NCIB 418), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCIB). The investigation revealed that the leaf extracts enhanced DPPH scavenging activity, albeit to a lesser extent than ascorbic acid. At concentrations of 50 and 100?g/ml, ascorbic acid exhibited scavenging activities of 40.50 ± 2.20% and 50.00 ± 2.22%, respectively, whereas Hyptis suaveolens leaf extract displayed activities of 05.34 ± 1.03% and 14.73 ± 3.30%. The extracts (50mg/100g and 100mg/100g) significantly increased plasma membrane redox system (PMRS) activity compared with the control group. After inducing oxidative stress in erythrocytes, the extract-maintained glutathione (GSH) levels and significantly inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) formation compared to the H2O2 group.  Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the plant extract inhibited bacterial growth, rendering the bacteria vulnerable. These findings suggest that the ingredients present in the plant leaf extract hold promise for potential use in chemotherapy.