From the clinical researcher’s desk

Introduction

The antioxidant stress plays an important role in the mechanism involving hypovolemic hemorrhage stress. Studies on hemorrhagic brain tissues highlighted that oxidative stress is mainly responsible for damage to brain tissues. Mulmina® consists of fruit pulp of Mangiferaindica, which is rich in dietary antioxidant, phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and carotenoid (confirmed by the spectrophotometric and HPLC studies). Mangifera indica flavonoids elevate free radical scavenging enzymes and decrease lipid peroxidation levels, as shown in preclinical trials. Another important component of Mulmina® is Centella asiatica, an important medicinal herb that is mainly composed of saponins (also called triterpenoids) which possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, antioxidant and wound healing properties. In preclinical trials, Centella asiatica has shown a decrease in the generation of ROS and oxidative stress and a significant increase in SOD levels. C. asiatica is rich in Polyphenol, flavonoid, β-carotene, tannin, Vitamin C and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) compounds, which contributes to its significantly higher antioxidant activity.

Curcuma longa present in Mulmina® is also a potent antioxidant. Mulmina®, containing the goodness of Mangifera indica, Centella asiatica and Curcuma longa, might be effective in reducing oxidative stress. Additionally, Mulmina® may help during hypovolemic hemorrhage stress or post-donation of blood in humans by replenishing the lost blood volume.

Objective

A study determined the total antioxidant capacity of Mulmina® in normal and stress-induced mice.

Methodology

• BALB/c mice were induced acute hypovolemic hemorrhagic stress by withdrawing 10% of total blood volume.
• The estimation of total antioxidant capacity was done in plasma samples of both normal- and stress-induced mice.

Key observations

• Treatment with Vitamin E (40 mg/kg) or Mulmina® (40 mg/kg and 80 mL/kg), did not elevate total antioxidant capacity in normal animals as compared to normal control.
• In stressed animals, the treatment with Mulmina® improved total antioxidant capacity significantly.
• Mulmina® treatment group significantly improved the total antioxidant capacity than the baseline (58.15±7.465 vs. 788.1±105).
• Treatment of Mulmina® after induction of stress significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity as compared with baseline (45.11±11.28 vs. 946.3±202.3)

CONCLUSION

• Mulmina® treatment was found to be effective in stressed BALB/c mice in attenuating oxidative stress.
• The present in vivo study suggested that intake of Mulmina® may attenuate the oxidative stress by increasing the total antioxidant capacity.
• The ability of Mulmina® to increase total antioxidant capacity can be attributed to its components such as curcumin, Mangifera indica, Centella asiatica and Curcuma longa which are powerful antioxidants.