Antioxidant

In past there have been many medicinal plants, which have been used in traditional medicines for their antidiabetic properties without any scientific support and pharmacological evidence. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antihyperglycemic activity of the crude extracts of leaves of Holarrhena antidysenterica. The pet ether, chloroform and ethanolic extracts have been subjected to estimate the anti-hyperglycemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose levels were measured using the commercially available glucometer. Glibenclamide was used as a reference drug at a dose of 0.6 mg/kg. The antioxidant activity of the test samples was studied in the liver tissue of diabetic rats by measuring catalase and lipid peroxidation levels. The results showed that ethanolic extract possessed a significant antihyperglycaemic and antioxidant activity equipotent with the reference drug (glibenclamide), when evaluated in diabetic rats.

The objective of this study was to determine the phenolic content of the Sterculia foetida L. seeds methanol extract (SSME) and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extract. The Folin-ciocalteu procedure was used to assess the total phenolic content of the extracts as garlic acid equivalents. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing power and 2, 2-Azinobis-3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) diammonium salt methods. The seed methanol extract was yielded 9.5% crude material. The total polyphenol content was 14.32%. The antioxidant activity of extract was shown similar correlation between DPPH, ferric reducing power and ABTS.   

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the total antioxidant potential of four different varieties of green beans namely Phaseolus vulgaris (french beans), Vicia faba (broad beans), Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (cluster beans) and Vigna unguiculata (cowpea beans) in both fresh and processed condition (microwave assisted). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin Coilteaus and AlCl3 assay respectively. The antioxidant activity was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) decomposition and reducing power assay. Efforts were also made to study the interaction of beans with metal ions. Total phenolic content ranged from 105.00 ± 0.021 to 300.00 ± 0.009 µg GAE.g-1  (Gallic acid equivalent) of extract and flavonoid content ranged from 55.00 ± 0.017 to 550.00 ± 0.050 µg QE.g-1 (Quercitin equivalent) of extract. All the extracts scavenged DPPH radical and decomposed H2O2. The reducing potential was found to be highest in Cyamopsis tetragonoloba followed by Vigna unguiculata, Vicia faba and Phaseolus vulgaris. Good correlation of phenolic content was observed with reducing power ability ( r2 = 0.743) and DPPH radical scavenging property (r2 = 0.694). The extracts chelated both the ionic forms of iron Fe2+ and Fe3+ but the affinity towards Fe3+ was higher. Green beans can be considered as a potential source of antioxidants. Fresh extracts were found to have higher antioxidant potential as compared to processed extracts.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of ellagic acid on physical and biochemical parameters and histopathological changes in tissues of streptozotocin (STZ) - induced diabetes in wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in wistar rats by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (45mg/kg body weight). STZ-induced diabetic rats showed a significant increase in kidney weight, food intake, water intake, blood urea, serum uric acid and creatinine and a significant decrease in body weight, liver weight, plasma total protein and albumin when compared to normal rats. Oral administration of ellagic acid (50 and 100 mg/kg) in STZ-induced diabetic rats for a period of 35 days significantly improved body weight and reduced food intake and water intake when compared with diabetic control rats. Ellagic acid administration in STZ-induced diabetic rats restored the liver and kidney weight and also the biochemical parameters to near normal when compared to diabetic control rats. The results of the present study clearly show the preventive role of ellagic acid in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Results obtained from histopathological studies also supported the anti-diabetic effect of ellagic acid in STZ- induced diabetes.

  This review brings out some medicinal plants that have therapeutic potential due to the presence of natural antioxidants. Majority of their antioxidant activity is due to bioactive compounds viz. Flavonoids and Polyphenolic compounds. The Present research reveals that Flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds activity have important effects on cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. Numerous mechanisms of action have been recognized, along with inactivation cancer, antiproliferation, and cell cycle arrest, stimulation of apoptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis. This work has particularly enhanced the function of antioxidants activity of Flavonoids for cancer research. Key word: Flavonoids, Antioxidant, Free radical and Cancer research 

The aim of present study was to estimate the in vitro antioxidant activity of alcoholic extract of Cucumis callosus (Rottl.) Cogn (Cucurbitaceae) seeds which is commonly known as “Kachri” in Rajasthan (India) evaluated by using DPPH radical scavenging activity and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity assay. The antioxidant activity was compared with ascorbic acid as standard. The IC50 values of Cucumis callosus and ascorbic acid were found 41.99 μg/ml and 24.27 μg/ml respectively for the DPPH radical scavenging activity while 95.27 μg/ml and 153.35 μg/ml respectively for hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity. Thus, alcoholic extract of Cucumis callosus seeds possess potent antioxidant activity in hydrogen peroxide model and may be useful for preparation of neutraceuticals as potent antioxidant to treat various human diseases. Key words: Cucumis callosus, Seeds, Antioxidant, Free radical scavenging, DPPH  

The Antioxidant potential of ethanol extract as well as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous soluble fractions of Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers., which is widely used in indigenous system of medicine for different purposes. The ethanol extract as well as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous soluble fraction were analysed for total phenolics content, total flavonoid content and free radical scavenging activity using DPPH (1,1- diphenyl- 2- picryl hydrazyl) radical. The ethanol extract was found more effective than four different fractions of ethanol extract of Tephrosia purpurea. Total phenolics content and total flavonoid content are found to be highest in ethyl acetate fraction and least in petroleum ether and more or less similar in aqueous and chloroform fractions. In general, the results indicate that the ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction are rich in phenolic content and flavonoid content with potent free radical scavenging activity implying their importance to human health. Key Words: Antioxidant, Tephrosia purpurea, DPPH.

  Oxidative stress caused by free radicals is associated to various diseases. Modern research is directed towards finding naturally-occurring antioxidants of plant origin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activities of punica granatum rind extracts of ganesh variety. The present investigation was to examine the free radical scavenging activity of various extracts of punica granatum rind by different in-vitro methods. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay, FRAP assay, Hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity, Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity. The methanolic extract of punica granatum rind was found to more effective in the radical scavenging activity. All the above invitro studies clearly indicate that the methanolic extract of punica granatum rind has a significant antioxidant activity. These invitro assays indicate that this rind extracts is a better source of natural antioxidant, which might be helpful in preventing the progress of various oxidative stresses and also support the ethnomedical use of this rind to promote good health for humans.