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Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Vol. 2 (1) Jan. –Feb. 2014
Deven Mehta et al
www.ajprd.com
31
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Vol. 2 (1) Jan. –Feb. 2014
Deven Mehta et al
www.ajprd.com
32
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development
(An International Peer-Reviewed Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development)
www.ajprd.com
ISSN 2320-4850
Review Article
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF SPINACIA OLERACEA LINN.-
A COMPLETE OVERVIEW
Deven Metha*, Sateesh Belemkar
Department of Pharmacology, SVKM’s NMIMS, Shirpur
Received: February 2014 Revised and Accepted: March 2014
ABSTRACT
Herbal and natural products of traditional medicine have been used for centuries in every culture throughout the world.
Medical professionals and Scientists have shown increased interest in this field as they diagnose the true health benefits of
these remedies. “Let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food” was advised by the father of medicine,
Hippocrates, over two million ago. It’s still true today that “you are what you eat.” Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that
came originally from south-western Asia and is now grown in most parts of the world. Scientifically it is known as
SpinciaoleraceaLinn. (Family-Chenopodiaceae). Though Spinach is most often used as a food, it has medicinal value as
well. Spinach is packed with vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin E and minerals like magnesium, manganese,
iron, calcium and folic acid. Spinach is also a good source of chlorophyll, which is known to aid in digestion. Spinach is
also rich in the carotenoids beta-carotene and lutein. It is a good source of the bioflavonoid quercetin with many other
flavonoids which exhibits anti-oxidant, ant proliferative, anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, CNS depressant, protection
against gamma radiation, hepatoprotective properties in addition to its many other benefits. Spinach is also used to prevent
the bone loss associated with osteoporosis and for its anti-inflammatory properties in easing the pain of arthritis. Spinach is
good for the heart and circulatory system and has energy-boosting properties. Spinach is truly one of nature's most perfect
foods.
Key words: Spinaciaoleracea, Spinach, Vegetable, Antioxidant, Flavonoids.
INTRODUCTION
high intake of fruit and
vegetables is well known to
have positive effects on human
health and has been correlated to a
decreased risk of most chronic diseases
such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes
and several forms of cancer
[1,
2]
.Spinaciaoleraceais commonly known as
Spinach (English), Chhurika (Sanskrit),
Palak (Hindi; Gujarati; and Marathi),
Palakh (Kashmiri), Palang (Bangla),
Pasalai (Tamil), and Mathubucchali
(Telugu) The
[3]
.
*Correspondence address:
Deven Metha
SVKM’s NarseeMoonjee Institute of Management &
Studies (NMIMS) Mumbai-Agra Road,
Shirpur Dist. : Dhule (M.S), 425405
Mob No.:-9422111744
E-mail:-devenmetha@rediffmail.com
In different traditional medicinal system it
is known by different names. ItsAyurvedic
name is ‘Paalankikaa’, in ‘Unani’ it is
called as ’Paalak’, where as in ‘Siddha’ it
is known by ‘Vasaiyila-keerai’
[4]
Spinach
has a high nutritional value and is
extremely rich in antioxidants, especially
when fresh, steamed, or quickly boiled. It
is a rich source of vitamin A (lutein),
vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K,
magnesium, manganese, folate, iron.
Spinaciaoleraceais an edible flowering
plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is
an annual plant (rarely biennial), which
grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach
may survive over winter in temperate
regions
[5]
. Apart from having nutritional
value, it has been also credited with
various biological activities like virus
inhibitor
[6]
, anthelmentic
[7]
, antioxidant
A
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Vol. 2 (1) Jan. –Feb. 2014
Deven Mehta et al
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33
[8]
,hepatoprotective
[9]
and reducing risk of
breast cancer
[10]
.
General information of SpinaciaOleracea
Linn
Scientific Classification
Plantae
Subkingdom : Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Subclass : Caryophyllidae
Order : Caryophyllales
Family : Chenopodiaceae
Genus : Spinacia L.
Species : SpinaciaoleraceaL.
[11]
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS
Stem: Erect from 30-60 cm high, round,
smooth, piped, succulent, sometime
reddish.
Leaves: Alternative, the lower ones very
long petioled, variously lobed with lobes
of an acute triangular shape, smooth on
both the side.
Flowers Male- Flowers on long terminal
glomerate spikes and on shorter ones from
the axial, very numerous, sessile, calyx 4-
parted, stamen 4, anthers twin, very large.
Female- Flowers axillary, sessile,
crowded. Calyx 2-tipped with a projecting
horn in each side, growing into spines
when the seed is ripe.Styles generally 4,
white tapering. Capsule 1-celled, 1-valved,
armed, with 2 opposite short horns, and
crowned with the small remaining calyx
.[3]
(Figure 1)
Figure 1: Spinaciaoleracea
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Flavonoids:
Spinaciaoleraceais very rich in the
flavonoids. Various flavonoids reported to
be present are querecetin; myricetin;
kampeferol
[12];
apigenin; luteolin;
patuletin; spinacetin; jaceidin; 4’-glu-
curonide; 5,3’,4’-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-
6:7-methylenedioxyflavone-4’-
glucuronide; 5,4’-dihydroxy-3.3’-
dimethoxy-6:7-methylene dioxyflavone-
4’-glu-curonide
[13]
; 5,4’-dihydroxi-3,3’-
dimithoxi-6,7-methylene-dioxi- flavone
(C18H14O8.); 3,5,7,3’,4’pentahydroxi-6-
methoxiflavone
[14]
.
Phenolic Compounds:
The polyphenols isolated from the plant
are para-coumaric acid, ferulic acid,
ortho- coumaric acid
[15]
.
Carotenoids:
Spinach shows presence of different
carotinoids like lutein, β-carotene,
violaxanthin and 9’-(Z)-neoxanhin.
Vitamins:
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Vol. 2 (1) Jan. –Feb. 2014
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34
Spinaciaoleraceacontains high
concentration of vitamin A, E, C, and K.
and also folic acid, oxalic acid.
Minerals: Along with these chemicals
various minerals present in the spinach.
These are magnesium, manganese,
calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper
and potash
[14]
.
DISTRIBUTION
Native to South- west Asia; cultivated
throughout India
[4]
.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEW
Spinaciaoleracea L.(Chenopodiaceae),
commonly known as “Spinach” in English
and “Palak” in Hindi, found throught out
India, and used in inflammation of liver &
in jaundice.
The leaves are used for bowel and lung
inflammation, febrile affliction and
cooling.
Spinach improves cerebellar physiology
and motor learning in aged rats.
CHEMICAL REVIEW
Spinach is a rich source of carotenoid
(lutein, β-carotene, and zeaxanthin), p-
Coumaric acid, ascorbic acid, proteins,
vitamins and other substances. The
spinach is well reported to be a good
source of minerals, vitamin B-complex,
ascorbic acid, flavonoids, and apocyanin.
Spinach, as a potherb, is rich in
nitrogenous substances, hydrocarbons and
iron sesqui-oxide.
The chemical composition of
Spinaciaoleracea is calcium-73mg/100gm,
magnesium-84mg/10gm, iron-10.9%,
phosphours-1mg/100gm, potassium-
206mg/100gm and vitamins
C,A,thiamine,riboflavin,lutein and
zeaxanthin.
Aerial parts afforded rutin, hyperoside,
astragalin and caffeic, chlorogenic,
neochlorogenic and protocatechuic acids.
Seeds contain glycoprotein- bound
hexosamine. Roots contain spirasaponins.
It also contains patuletin, quercetin,
saponin, catechol and sterols. The sterols
reported in seeds of this plant are
Stigmasterol, Spinatoside, 20-
hydroxyecdysone etc.
Spinach is regarded as a valuable dietary
source of vitamin A, nonheme iron, folate,
and lutein. Spinach also contains oxalates
and nitrates that may have potential
negative effects.
Different Activity Reported for Spinach
Sr
No.
Reported Activity Author(s) Publication
1 Scavenging of reactive
oxygen species by a novel
glucurinated flavonoid
antioxidant isolated and
purified from spinach
Margalit Bergman
Alexander
Perelman, et al
Phytochemistry 62 (2003) 753-
762.
[16]
2 Antibacterial Activity of
Aqueous and alcoholic
extracts of 34 Indian
medicinal plants against
some Staphylococcus
Species.
Jignaparekh,
Sumitra V, et al
Turk J Biol 32 (2008) 63-71.
[17]
3
SpinaciaOleracea
modulates radiation
induced biochemical
changes in mice testis.
RashmiSisodia*,
RituYadav,et al
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, June 2008.
[18]
4
Effect of Hexane extracts
of Spinach in the removal
of Arsenic from rat.
Badar Uddin
Umar
Bangladesh J Pharmacolology 2007;
2: 27-34.
[19]
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Vol. 2 (1) Jan. –Feb. 2014
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5 Amelioration of CCl
4
–
induced Hepatosuppression
by Spinaciaoleracea L.
Leaves in wistar Albino
rats
R.S. Gupta* et. al Pharmacology online 3:267-278
(2006).
[20]
6
Dietary Supplementation
with Blueberries, Spinach
or Spirulina reduces
Ischemia brain damage.
Yu Wanga,
Chenfu, et al
Experimental Neurol
ogy 193 (2005)
75-84.
[21]
www.Elsevier.com
7
Role of Spinaciaoleracea as
Antioxidant: A
Biochemical Study on
Mice brain after exposure
of Gamma Radiation
Rajesh Kumar, et
al
Asian J.Exp. Sci, Vol.17, No.1&2,
2003, 51-57.
[22]
8 A natural Antioxidant
Mixture from spinach does
not have Estrogenic or
Antiestrogenic Activity in
Immature CD-1 mice
Elizabeth Padilla
bank* , Wendy N.
Jefferson*, et al
Nutrient Interactions & Toxicity
research communication, the Journal
of nutrition,2003.
[23]
9 Eighteen month old fischer
344Rats fed a Spinach
Enriched Diet show
improved delay classical
eye blink conditioning and
reduced expression of TNF
and TNF in the cerebellum.
M.ClaireCartford
et al
The journal of Neuroscience , July
15,2002,22(14):5813-5816.
[24]
10
Iron application
Ameliorates Copper
Toxicity Effects In Spinach
Nautiyal, N.;
Chatterjee,C,et al
Indian journal of Plant Physiology
(India) 0019-5502 V.7(2) P. 198-
200,2002.
[25]
11
Spinaciaoleracea L.
protects against gamma
radiations: A study on
glutathione and lipid
peroxidation in mouse
liver.
A.L. Bhatia*, M.
Jain, et al
Phytomedicine 11 (2004) 607
-
615.
[26]
www.elsevier.de/phymed
12 Bioactive compounds in
Baby Spinach
(Spinaciaoleracea L.)
effects of pre and
postharvest factors.
Sara Bergquist Doctoral thesis Swedish University
of Agricultural Sciences Alnarp
2006.
[27]
13 Effect of Boiling and
storage on Beta-carotene
content of Different
vegetables.
Farida Anjum, et
al
Pak. J. life soc. Sci. (2008)6(1):63-
67.
[28]
14
Topical & oral
administration of the
natural water soluable
antioxidant from spinach
reduces the multiplicity of
Papillomas in the Tg.AC
mouse model
A.Nyska, et al
Toxicology Lette
rs 122 (2001) 33
-
44
[29]
www.elsevier.com/locate/toxlet
15 Determination of Vitamin
C,β-carotene and
Riboflavin contents in five
Amin Ismail
&CheahSook Fun
Mal J Nutr 9(1):31-39, 2003.
[30]
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Vol. 2 (1) Jan. –Feb. 2014
Deven Mehta et al
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36
green vegetables
organically and
conventionally Grown
16 In vitro screening of
antibacterial activity of
aqueous and alcoholic
extracts of various Indian
plant species against
selected pathogens from
Enterobacteriaceae
Parekh j and
Chanda S*
Africian Journal of Microbiology
Research Vol. 1 (6) pp. 092-099
November-2007.
[31]
17
Spinach for sight : Light
sensitive proteins in
chlorophyll may provide
treatment for some eye
diseases
Eli Greenbaum, et
al
Oak Ridge National Laboratory ,
September 2001.
[32]
18 CNS depressive role of
aqueous extract of
Spinaciaoleracea leaves in
adult male albino rat
Sutapa Das
&DepajaniGuha
Indian Journal of experimental
biology, Vol 46,2008, 185-190.
[33]
19 Possible Antitumour
Promoters in Spinacia
Oleracea and comparison
of their content among
cultivators
Rong Wang ,
Toshio
Furumoto.,et al
Biosci. Biotecnnol. Biochem, 66 (2),
248-254,2002.
[33]
20 Immunization against
rabies with plant derived
antigen
Anna Modelska,
VIdadiYusibov*,
et al
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol.95,
pp. 2481-2485, March 1998
Immunology.
[34]
21
Effects of Antioxidants
Apocynin and the Natural
water soluble antioxidant
from spinach on cellular
damage induced by
Lipopolysaccaride in the
rat
Liat L1* et al
Toxicologic Pathology, Vol 28
No.4. pp . 590-587, 2000.
[35]
22 Ecdysone 20
monoosygenase , a
cytochrome P450 enzyme
from Spinach,
Spinaciaoleracea Linn
Robert J.
Grebenok*, et al
Photochemistry, Vol.42 No.4,pp
927-933, 1996
1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.
[36]
23 Antioxidant Mixture from
Spinach does not have
Estrogenic or Ant
estrogenic activity in
Immune CD-1 mice
Lomnitski, L.,
Padilla-Banks, et
al
American Society for Nutritional
Sciences.2003.
[37]
Mechanism of Action by constituents of
S. Oleracea
• Hepatoprotective activity of S.oleracea
Linn. Is based on its active constituents,
including β-carotene, lutein,
zeaxanthine, flavonoids, vitamin C, p-
coumaric acid and micronutrients.
• Free radical scavenging compounds
such as β-carotene and vitamin C can
protect DNA from oxidizing radical
reactions.
• β-carotene is a potent free radical
quencher, singlet oxygen scavenger,
and lipid antioxidant.
• β-carotene has already been reported to
quench not only singlet oxygen but also
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Vol. 2 (1) Jan. –Feb. 2014
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37
to scavenge a variety of free radical
species.
• Zeaxanthine is only as effective as β-
carotene in inhibiting autooxidant of
lipids in solution, but is about 50%
more effective in retarding hydroxide
formation in phosphatidylcholine
liposomes.
• Lutein is effective at inhibiting
autoxidation of cellular lipids.
• Vitamin C is considered to be the most
important antioxidant in extracellular
fluids.
• It acts to protect membranes against
peroxidation by enhancing the activity
of α-tocoppherol, the chief lipid soluble
and chain breaking antioxidant.
• Flavonoids are typical phenolic
compounds and reported that LPO can
be inhibited by flavonoids, possibly
through their activity as strong O
2
–
scavengers (Baumann J, et al,1980) and
singlet oxygen quenchers.
• P-Coumaric acid derivatives are strong
antioxidants and have a ability of
scavenge free radicals.
TRADITIONAL USES
The plant is sweet, cooling, carminative,
laxative, alexipharmic; useful in diseases
of blood and brain, asthma, leprosy,
biliousness; causes “kapha” (Ayurveda). It
has been used in the treatment of urinary
calculi. In experiments it has been shown
to have hypoglycaemic properties. The
leaves are cooling, emollient, wholesome,
antipyretic, diuretic, maturant, laxative,
digestiblle, anthelmentic, useful in urinary
concretion, inflammation of the lungs and
the bowels, sore throat, pain in joints,
thirst, lumbago, cold and sneezing, sore
eye, ring worm scabies, leucoderma,
soalding urine, arrest vomiting ,
biliousness, flatulence. And have been
used in the treatment of febrile conditions.
The seeds are useful in fevers,
leucorrhoea, urinary discharges, lumbago,
and diseases of the brain and of the heart
(Yunani). Seeds are laxative and cooling.
They have been used in the treatment of
difficulty in breathing, inflammation of the
liver and jaundice. The green plant is
given for the urinary calculi
[3,38]
.
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
Antioxidant Activity
The chemical fraction of natural
antioxidant (NAO) components in
Spinaciaoleraceawas reported by
Grossman in 2001. Spinach leaves were
extracted with water and the 20,000 g
supernatant which contained the
antioxidant activity was extracted with
water: acetone (1:9) solution. The 20,000 g
supernatant obtained was further purified
on reverse phase HPLC using C-8 semi-
preparative column. Elution with 0.1%
TFA resulted intensive hydrophilic peaks.
Elution with acetonitrile in TFA resulted
in seven additional hydrophobic peaks. All
the peaks were detected at 250 nm. All the
fractions obtained showed antioxidant
activity when tested using three different
assays. Based on
1
H and
13
C NMR
spectroscopy four of the hydrophobic
fractions were identified as glucuronic acid
derivatives of flavonoids and three
additional fractions as Trans and cis
isomers of p-coumaric acid and others as
meso-tartarate derivatives of p-coumaric
acid. The study demonstrated for the first
time the presence of both flavonoids and
p-coumaric acid derivatives as antioxidant
components of the aqueous extract of
spinach leaves
[39]
.
Protection against Gamma Radiation
The protective effect of 1100 mg/kg/day of
50% methanolic extract of
Spinaciaoleracea L. (MESO) against
radiation-induced oxidative stress were
evaluated in terms of lipid peroxidation
(LPO) product and tissue levels of
glutathione. The animals were exposed to
gamma radiation at a rate of 1.07 Gy/min
with a source-to-surface distance of 77.5
cm. The animals were autopsied at 1, 3, 7,
15 and 30 days post-exposure. LPO
increased after irradiation up to day 15 in
the untreated-irradiated mice and up to day
7 in MESO pre-treated irradiated mice.
LPO values were significantly lower in the
MESO pre-treated irradiated mice as
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Vol. 2 (1) Jan. –Feb. 2014
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38
compared to respective untreated-
irradiated mice at all intervals, which
reached normal values from day 7 onward.
It was found that radiation-induced
augmentation in malondialdehyde contents
and depletion in glutathione changes in
liver can be altered by MESO. The
protection may be attributed to the
combined effects of its constituents rather
than to any single factor as the leaves are
rich in carotenoid content (b-carotene,
lutein, Zeaxanthine), ascorbic acid,
flavonoids and p-coumaric acid11. The
radioprotective efficacy of spinach against
radiation induced oxidative stress was
studied by Verma and Bhatia in 2003. For
the experiments, Swiss albino male mice
treated with Spinaciaoleracea leaves
alcoholic extract (SE) once daily at the
dose of 1100 mg/kg/day p.o. for 15 days.
The animals are exposed to single dose of
5 Gy of gamma radiation at the dose rate
of 1.07 Gy/min. After the exposure mice
were sacrificed at different autopsy
intervals viz. 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days. Brain
was removed and processed to estimate
LPO. Radiation induced significant
elevation in the LPO values, which were
lowered by supplementation of SE prior to
irradiation at all the intervals studied. The
protection rendered with SE in LPO value
of brain in this study indicates the possible
role Spinaciaoleracea as radio protector to
some extent if taken continuously which
might be due to synergistic effect of
antioxidant constituents present in the
spinach
[40]
.
Anticancer Activity
In one study spinach ethanol extract (SE)
and the three fractions by the hydrophobic
column chromatography were investigated
for their inhibition of calf, DNA
polymarases (pol). The spinach
glycoglycerolipid fraction dose dependent
inhibited the activity of pol α with IC50
value of 43.0µg/ml and the fat soluble
fraction slightly inhibited the activity of
pol α, although the water soluble fraction
did not show such an effect. The ethanol
extract from spinach had no effect on pol
α, although the extract contains pol
inhibitory glycoglycerolipid. This
concluded that the spinach
glycoglycerolipid fraction can inhibit
mammalian pol activity, human cultured
cancer cell growth, and in vivo solid tumor
proliferation with oral administration. This
fraction could help to prevent cancer and
be a functional food with anticancer
activity
[41]
.
Inhibition of Mammalian DNA
Polymerases
The purification of the major glycolipids
in the class of
monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG),
digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) and
sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG),
from green vegetable spinach
(Spinaciaoleracea L.) was reported.
MGDG was an inhibitor of the growth of
NUGC-3 human gastric cancer cell, but
the DGDG and SQDG has no cytotoxic
effect. So researcher studied MGDG and
its monoacylglycerol-form,
monogalactosylmonoacylglycerol
(MGMG) in detail. MGMG with one fatty
acid molecule was obtained from MGDG
with two fatty acid molecule by
hydrolizing with the pancreatic lipase.
MGMG was also found to prevent the
cancer cell growth. MGDG was the potent
inhibitor of replicative DNA polymerases
such as α ό and ε. MGMG inhibited the
activities of the all mammalian DNA
polymerases including repair-related DNA
polymerases β with IC50 value of 8.5-36
µg/ml and the inhibition by the MGMG
was stronger than that by the MGDG. Both
the MGDG and MGMG could halt the cell
cycle at G 1 phase, and subsequently
induced severe apoptosis
[42]
.
Sulphite Oxidase Activity
The spinach chloroplasts possess a sulphite
oxidase activity coupled with oxygen
consumption and reduction of ferricyanide.
This activity is associated with thylakoids
and solubilized by non-ionic biological
detergents. The pH and temperature
dependencies of sulphite oxidase activity
solubilized by Triton X-100 from spinach
thylakoids were consistent with those of an
intrinsic membrane protein. This isolated
activity was insensitive towards radical
scavengers (mannitol, mannose and
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Vol. 2 (1) Jan. –Feb. 2014
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39
fructose) and catalase, and was inhibited
only with very high concentrations of
superoxide dismutase. Thus, observed
sulphite oxidation was not induced through
the photosynthetic electron transport
system, but achieved via a thylakoid
membrane enzymic system showing a
sulphite oxidase activity. Kinetic
parameters of thylakoid sulphite oxidase
were measured and compared with those
of other sulphite oxidases
[43]
.
Hepatoprotective Activity
Gupta and Singh 2006 reported the
amelioration by Spinaciaoleracea L. leaves
alcoholic extract (SE) against the
hepatosuppression induced by carbon
tetrachloride (CCl4). This was evaluated in
terms of serum- marker enzymes like
GGT, AST, ALT , LDH, SDH, GDH,
ALP, serum-total bilirubin and total
protein levels along with concomitant
hepatic-antioxidants like SOD, CAT ,GSH
, GPx GR, GST ,ascorbic acid (vitamin-c),
β-carotene and cytochrome P-450 enzyme.
Whereas, LPO was monitored in both
serum and liver. These biochemical
parameters were significantly (P<0.001)
altered by the single dose of CCl4 Pre-
treatment with SE prior to the
administration of CCl (1.0 ml/kg, i.p., with
olive oil, 1:1). 4, at the doses of 100 and
200 mg/kg/day, p.o. for 7 days,
significantly restored to all the serum and
liver parameters near to the normal levels.
The hepatoprotective potential of S.
oleracea L. against hepatosuppression
possibly involves mechanism related to its
ability to block the P-450 mediated CCl4
bioactivation through selective inhibitors
of ROS (reactive oxygen species). Thus S.
oleraceaL., showing protection in liver,
may prove as a rich source of antioxidants
[44]
.
Inhibition of Clastogenisity
The homogenate of spinach reduces
induction of micronuclei by
benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) by 43–50% in the in
vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus
assay. Inhibition of genotoxicity by
spinach was not caused by any delay in
maturation of micro nucleated erythrocytes
as shown by experiments with sampling
times of 24, 48, and 72 h after dosing of
BaP. Pre-treatment of the mice with
spinach 48, 24, and 12 h before application
of BaP resulted in a 44% reduction of
micronuclei. A post-treatment procedure
administering spinach 6 h after dosing of
BaP did not indicate any protective effects.
When trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7, 8-
dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BaP-7,8-OH) was
applied for induction of micronuclei
spinach reduced the number of
micronuclei by 55%. Pre-treatment of
mice with spinach 96, 72, and 60 h before
sacrifice caused a decline of hepatic 7-
ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) and
of 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase
(PROD) activities by factors of 2.2 and
1.4, respectively. However, statistical
significance was not reached
[45]
.
Anticancer Activity
In one study spinach ethanol extract (SE)
and the three fractions by the hydrophobic
column chromatography were investigated
for their inhibition of calf, DNA
polymarases (pol). The spinach
glycoglycerolipid fraction dose dependent
inhibited the activity of pol α with IC50
value of 43.0µg/ml and the fat soluble
fraction slightly inhibited the activity of
pol α, although the water soluble fraction
did not show such an effect. The ethanol
extract from spinach had no effect on pol
α, although the extract contains pol
inhibitory glycoglycerolipid. This
concluded that the spinach
glycoglycerolipid fraction can inhibit
mammalian pol activity, human cultured
cancer cell growth, and in vivo solid tumor
proliferation with oral administration. This
fraction could help to prevent cancer and
be a functional food with anticancer
activity
[46]
.
CNS Depressant Effect
Treatment with Spinaciaoleracea extract
(SO; 400 mg/kg body weight) decreased
the locomotor activity, grip strength,
increased pentobarbitone induced sleeping
time and also markedly altered
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Vol. 2 (1) Jan. –Feb. 2014
Deven Mehta et al
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40
pentylenetetrazole induced seizure status
in Holtzman strain adult male albino rats.
SO increased serotonin level and
decreased both norepinephrine and
dopamine levels in cerebral cortex,
cerebellum, caudate nucleus, midbrain and
pons and medulla. Result suggests that SO
exerts its CNS depressive effect in PTZ
induced seizure by modulating the
monoamines in different brain areas
[47]
.
Inhibition of Proliferation of Human
Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cells
Four kinds of assays (i) cell growth assay,
(ii) colony forming assay, (iii) MTT
colorimetric assay, and (iv) 3H-TdR
incorporation assay, were used to study the
effect of a fat-soluble extract of spinach
powder (SPFE) on the proliferation of
human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line
(SGC-7901) in vitro. The concentrations
of SPFE expressed as the level of beta-
carotene in the medium were 2 x 10(-8), 2
x 10(-7) and 2 x 10(-6) mol/L beta-
carotene in assay (i)-(iii), but 4 x 10(-8), 4
x 10(-7) and 4 x 10(-6) mol/L beta-
carotene in assay (iv) respectively. The
results indicated that SPFE inhibited the
proliferation and colony forming ability of
SGC-7901 cells. And in MTT assay, SPFE
inhibited the viability of SGC-7901 cells,
but no inhibitory effect of SPFE was
observed on the viability of lymphocytes
in peripheral blood of healthy people.
Finally, in the 3H-TdR incorporation test,
both SPFE and beta-carotene showed
significant inhibitory effects on DNA
synthesis in SGC-7901 cells, but SPFE
was more effective than beta-carotene
[48]
Anthelmintic Activity
Dave et al., 2009 evaluated the
anthelmintic activity of crude extract of
SpinaciaoleraceaLinn. And different
extract namely fresh juice extract and
methanolic extract using
Pheretimaposthumaas test worms.
Different concentrations 10 mg/ml, 20
mg/ml, 30 mg/ml, 40 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml
of fresh juice extract and methanolic
extract of Spinaciaoleracea Linn (MSO)
were studied to determine the time of
paralysis and time of death of worms. Both
the extract performed invitro anthelmintic
activity. Albendazole was used as standard
reference and saline water as control. The
result was revealed that the fresh juice
extract may show more potent
anthelmintic activity than MSO
[49]
.
CONCLUSION
Spinach (SpinaciaoleraceaL.) is a leafy
vegetable that belongs to the goosefoot
family. Various pharmacological activities
of Spinaciaoleraceasuch as, anti-oxidant,
antiinfammatory, antiproliferative, CNS
depressant, antihistaminic, protection
against gamma radiation, hepatoprotective
have been reported. Various secondary
metabolites like flavanoids, carotinoids,
and phenolic compounds have been
reported from this plant. Thus
Spinaciaoleraceamerits further
phytochemical, pharmacological and
clinical investigations for development of
an effective natural remedy to provide
therapeutically effective lead compounds
or extracts.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors are thankful to SVKM’s NMIMS
School of pharmacy & Technology
Management, Shirpur for providing
platform to carry out this work.
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