In vitro antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging potential of a rare endangered and threatened species Erinocarpus nimmonii leaf extracts

The present study is an attempt made to determine the antioxidant potency of Erinocarpus nimmonii Grath a rare endangered and threatened species (RET). Leaf extracts were prepared by using solvent like methanol, ethanol, n-hexane and dichloromethane by cold extraction method. The total antioxidant activity was measured spectrophotometrically by phosphomolybdenum method. Antioxidant activity was expressed as equivalents of ascorbic acid. Butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) is used as reference standard. All the extracts exhibited antioxidant potentialities in a concentration dependent manner. Methanol crude extract at 100 μg exhibited antioxidant capacity 35.5 μg of ascorbic acid/mg and followed different solvent extracts such as ethanol, n-hexane and dichloromethane, 27.8, 20.85 and 18.85 μg of ascorbic acid/mg respectively. The highest antioxidant and free radical scavenging ability of the methanol extract observed was 84.16 μg mL–1. Hence, with this scientific support, further work may be carried out for this wild plant parts as medicinal source. These extracts may be explored as template in drug discovery and drug design especially in prevention and management of diseases in associated with aging, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Author(s): Anitha Puranik*, Parimala R. and Anantacharya

Abstract | PDF

Share This Article