Potential of Selected Underutilized Leafy Vegetables Against CCL4 Induced Oxidative Stress on Wistar Rats

Nutritional immunology might become even more important in prevention of disease. Underutilized leafy vegetables are the richest source of many bioactive compounds especially phenolic compounds with excellent antioxidant properties. Increased consumption of diets containing leafy vegetables may give positive results to human health. The underutilized leafy vegetables which includes Indian pennywort, Sessile joyweed, Red amaranth, Red spinach, Asiatic day flower, Indian sorrel, Roselle leaves are quantified for its phenols, flavonoids and vitamins contents by HPLC-LC MS method. The phenols, flavonoids and vitamins ranged from 0.186 – 12014 µg/g, 0.018 – 785.25 µg/g and 0.361 – 18466.56 ng/g in the underutilized leafy vegetables. Based on the bioactive compounds present, herbal preparations are developed and evaluated for hepatoprotective property against CCL4 induced intoxication in wistar rat model. Biochemical estimation in blood serum (AST/SGOT, ALT/SGPT, ALP, Total bilirubin) and antioxidant enzyme estimation in liver homogenate (SOD, GOD, LPO) showed positive results to reduce hepatotoxicity in CCL4 intoxicated wistar rat model. This exploration can helps in addressing importance of bioactive components present in underutilized leafy vegetables in combating various degenerative diseases and also proved the nutraceutical potential of leafy vegetables. Further which can be used for development of functional foods with the present pre-clinical data.