Protective effect of antioxidant triterpenes of Baliospermum solanifolium (burm.) suresh leaf extract against peroxidative cellular toxicity.

Baliospermum solanifolium (Burm.) Suresh, a plant extensively utilised in ayurvedic and traditional medicine for liver disorders and gastrointestinal ailments, has pharmacological properties that remain under explored. This study evaluated the protective effects of B. solanifolium leaf methanolic extract (BMLE) and its partially purified fraction (BMLE-AF) against peroxidative cellular injury. The extract was prepared using the percolation method and fractioned via silica gel column chromatography. Phytochemical and TLC analysis of a purified BMLE-AF ensured the presence of polyphenols, saponins, and terpenoids with LC/MS analysis revealed myricetin, kaempferol glycosides, cotinine and securinine. BMLE was toxic to HeLa cells but not the Vero or Raw 264.7 cells, while BMLE-AF showed no cytotoxicity. Both BMLE and BMLE-AF protected cells from H2O2/AAPH-induced death, but BMLE-AF exacerbated toxicity in Raw 264.7 macrophage likely due to the myeloperoxidase system. These findings highlight BMLE's potential as a new source of candidate drugs for chronic inflammatory diseases.