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. 2021 Jul 5;10(7):1375.
doi: 10.3390/plants10071375.

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant and Sperm Viability of Nelumbo nucifera Petal Extracts

Jiraporn Laoung-On  1   2 , Churdsak Jaikang  3 , Kanokporn Saenphet  4 , Paiwan Sudwan  1
Affiliations

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant and Sperm Viability of Nelumbo nucifera Petal Extracts

Jiraporn Laoung-On et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.; N. nucifera) is a common ingredient in traditional medicine and Thai recipes. Its petal is an agricultural waste from stamen production. There are limitations in the used and pharmacological data of the petals resulting in more petals waste. The aims of this study were to investigate the phytochemical contents, antioxidant activity, and potential effects on sperm viability of aqueous (NAE) and ethanolic extracts (NEE) of both red and white N. nucifera petals. The white NAE had the highest total phenolics content, total tannins content and maximal antioxidant activity. The white NEE had the highest concentration of total flavonoids. Quercetin was a major flavonoid and was found in the aqueous extracts. Both red and white of NAE in the range of 0.22 to 1.76 mg/mL increased sperm viability. The white NAE was prominent in phytochemical content, antioxidant activity, and both red and white NAE effectively increased rat sperm viability in the in vitro model. The white NAE enhanced sperm viability by decreasing oxidative stress. It might be suggested that the N. nucifera petals have benefits for sperm viability health promotion and may increase the economic value of agricultural waste.

Keywords: Nelumbo nucifera petal; agriculture waste; antioxidant; oxidative stress; sperm viability.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The percent of inhibition of DPPH of both aqueous and ethanolic extract of red N. nucifera petals and white N. nucifera petals. (NAE: N. nucifera petals aqueous extraction, NEE: N. nucifera petals ethanolic extraction). Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The percent of inhibition of ABTS of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of red N. nucifera petals and white N. nucifera petals. (NAE: N. nucifera petals aqueous extraction, NEE: N. nucifera petals ethanolic extraction). Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The percent of inhibition of H2O2 of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of red N. nucifera petals and white N. nucifera petals. (NAE: N. nucifera petals aqueous extraction, NEE: N. nucifera petals ethanolic extraction). Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The absorbance of reducing Fe (III) to Fe (II) of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of red N. nucifera petals and white N. nucifera petals. (NAE: N. nucifera petals aqueous extraction, NEE: N. nucifera petals ethanolic extraction). Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 5
Figure 5
The percent of inhibition of LPO of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of red N. nucifera petals and white N. nucifera petals. (NAE: N. nucifera petals aqueous extraction, NEE: N. nucifera petals ethanolic extraction). Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 6
Figure 6
The percent of inhibition of AOPP of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of red N. nucifera petals and white N. nucifera petals. (NAE: N. nucifera petals aqueous extraction, NEE: N. nucifera petals ethanolic extraction). Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 7
Figure 7
The percent of inhibition of AGEs of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of red N. nucifera petals and white N. nucifera petals. (NAE: N. nucifera petals aqueous extraction, NEE: N. nucifera petals ethanolic extraction). Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 8
Figure 8
HPLC chromatograms of phenolic acids showed in the red NAE (A), the white NAE (B), the red NEE (C), and the white NEE (D) from Column, Purospher® Star PR-18; mobile phase, 0.1% formic acid in water and CAN; flow rate, 0.8 mL/min; detection wavelength, 250 nm. Flavonoids presented in the red NAE (E), the white NAE (F), the red NEE (G) and the white NEE (H); detection wavelength, 330 nm. Peak identification: peak 1, quercetin; peak 2, gallic acid; peak 3, catechin; peak 4, p-hydroxybenzoic acid.
Figure 9
Figure 9
The percent of sperm viability of the aqueous extract of red N. nucifera petals (A) and white N. nucifera petals (B) compared with the control group. a,b,c The variables with the different letters indicate significant differences between groups at p < 0.05 (One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test). The variables with the same letter are not statistically significant. Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 10
Figure 10
Sperm viability classification in the control group (A,B), the red NAE 0.44 mg/mL of (C) and the white NAE 0.44 mg/mL (D) stained with DAPI (4′,6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole, Dihydrochloride) and PI (Propidium iodide). The sperm was stained blue with DAPI and stained red with PI (DAPI+PI+) was considered dead, but sperm that was stained blue with DAPI and remained unstained with PI (DAPI+PI-) was viable spermatozoa. The investigated sperm was photographed at a magnification of 400× under ImageXpress Micro 4 High-Content Imaging System.
Figure 11
Figure 11
The mean value of AOPP formation in the rat sperm sample treated as follows: control, white NAE 0.22, 0.44, 0.88, 1.76 and 3.52 mg/mL, FeSO4 and FeSO4 following the white NAE 0.22, 0.44, 0.88, 1.76 and 3.52 mg/mL (NAE: N. nucifera petals aqueous extraction). a,b,c,d The variables with the different letters indicate significant differences between groups at p < 0.05. The variables with the same letter are not statistically significant. Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 12
Figure 12
The mean value of the total oxidative status on the rat sperm sample treated as follows: control, white NAE 0.22, 0.44, 0.88, 1.76 and 3.52 mg/mL, FeSO4 and FeSO4 following the white NAE 0.22, 0.44, 0.88, 1.76 and 3.52 mg/mL (NAE: N. nucifera petals aqueous extraction). a,b The variables with the different letters indicate significant differences between groups at p < 0.05. The variables with the same letter are not statistically significant. Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 13
Figure 13
The mean value of the total antioxidant status on the rat sperm sample treated as follows: control, white NAE 0.22, 0.44, 0.88, 1.76 and 3.52 mg/mL, FeSO4 and FeSO4 following the white NAE 0.22, 0.44, 0.88, 1.76 and 3.52 mg/mL (NAE: N. nucifera petals aqueous extraction). a,b,c,d,e The variables with the different letters indicate significant differences between groups at p < 0.05. The variables with the same letters are not statistically significant. Data are mean values ± standard deviation (error bars).
Figure 14
Figure 14
A schematic diagram showing course of research activities.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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