Pharmacological Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties of Causonis trifolia against Hypertension

Cayratia trifolia (L.) Domin is an Indian and South East Asian climbing vine that has been traditionally used in medicine. Its uses include headache treatment, wound healing, neuralgia treatment, gastrointestinal problems and metabolic diseases. Phytochemically diverse this vine is now receiving scientific interest for its many natural remedies for oxidative stress related conditions such as hypertension. Its leaves, stems, roots, fruit and whole plant extracts are rich in flavonoids, stilbenes, phenolics, terpenoids and cyanogenetic glycosides. These phytochemicals have well-documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vascular protective properties. In vitro experiments have shown C. trifolia extracts to be highly effective scavengers of free radicals using methods such as DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, HPTLC profiling and measuring total phenolic content. The in vivo data also supports the antioxidant properties of C. trifolia with reductions in lipid peroxide (MDA) and restoration of endogenous antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione. Further support was provided through the protection of liver and kidney tissue subjected to oxidative damage. Mechanistically, it is believed that the flavonoids and stilbenes present in C. trifolia reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS), improve the availability of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) and inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity – three mechanisms that contribute to blood pressure regulation. Therefore, based on traditional use, phytochemical richness and recent biological activity studies, C. trifolia represents a very promising natural resource for future antihypertensive research. As such, it will provide a viable option for future in vitro, in vivo and pharmacological studies aimed at developing plant-based therapeutics for vascular health through its solid antioxidant background and molecular plausibility.