Protective effects of extracts from Ephedra foeminea Forssk fruits against oxidative injury in human endothelial cells.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Ephedra foeminea is a member of the Ephedraceae family which is widespread in the eastern Mediterranean area. In Lebanon, Ephedra is a popular remedy in traditional medicine to prevent and/or counteract many stress oxidative-related diseases like inflammation and bacterial infections. Aim of the study Oxidative stress leads to endothelial cell dysfunction, and is a major factor contributing to etiology of atherosclerosis and related diseases. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and cytoprotective potential of extracts from E. foeminea fruits on human endothelial cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide to mimic in vitro vascular endothelium dysfunction. Materials and methods Different extracts of E. foeminea fruits were prepared using pure ethanol (EE), methanol/water mixture (EMW), pure hexane (Ehex) or ethyl acetate/water (Epoly) as extraction solvents. The phenolome profile of each extract was characterized using High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/MS) analysis. Total phenolic and flavonoid content, and radical scavenging properties of the extracts were assessed spectrophotometrically. Then, the effects on human endothelial cells HECV were evaluated. Results Epoly extract showed the highest phenol and flavonoid content, and the highest radical scavenging capacity. On H2O2-insulted HECV cells Epoly was able: (i) to counteract the ROS/RNS production and lipid peroxidation; (ii) to rescue the ROS-dependent decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potentially; (iii) to counteract the apoptosis induction; (iv) to restore endothelial cell viability and migration. Conclusions The findings indicated that the polyphenol-enriched extract from E. foeminea frutits is endowed with in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic effects and might be used as nutraceutical for treating radical-related endothelium dysfunction and inflammation.