Determination of in-vitro Antioxidant Potential of Bael (Aegle marmelos) Leaf Extract under Sodium Nitrite Induced Oxidative Stress

The present study was designed to determine the antioxidant potential of aqueous extract of Bael leaves (Aegle marmelos) using sodium nitrite stressed PC-12 cells. The aqueous extract of dried Bael leaf showed increased levels of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase which were decreased when cells were treated with NaNO₂. Peroxynitrite levels were also decreased in NaNO₂ stressed cells when they were treated with Bael leaf extract. Lipid peroxidation measurement studies were also done using thiobarbituric acid (TBA) which revealed the significant reduction in MDA levels when stressed cells were treated with Bael leaf extract. A significant increase in DPPH radical scavenging activity and Ferric reducing ability was also observed in cells treated with Bael leaf extract which was decreased upon stress induction. Our results strongly support the antioxidant potential of aqueous Bael leaf extract besides acting as a neuroprotective agent which is indicated by an increased levels of antioxidant enzymes which were decreased in NaNO₂ stressed PC-12 cells.