Abstract
The objective of the present work was to investigate the anti-oxidative potential of methanolic extract of Carissa opaca roots and its fractions in solvents of different polarities. Total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents of methanolic extract were 211.95 ± 0.78 μg/mL gallic acid equivalents (GAE) and 8.35 ± 0.21 μg/mL rutin equivalents (RE), respectively. Ethyl acetate contained the highest amounts of both (TFC, 11.8 ± 0.28 RE; TPC, 342.80 ± 0.42 GAE) followed by chloroform fraction (TFC, 7.50 ± 0.14 RE; TPC, 275.85 ± 0.50 GAE). Extract and fractions displayed remarkable DPPH radical scavenging activity. EC50 values of methanolic extract was 0.88 mg/mL, while that of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanolic and aqueous fractions were 0.58, 0.38, 0.29, 0.36 and 5.83 mg/mL, respectively, ethyl acetate fraction being most potent. The ethyl acetate fraction also showed the highest activity in terms of reducing power, phosphomolybdate and ABTS assays. All the fractions showed fairly good lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity, which remained almost constant over three days. Based on the results it can be concluded that roots of Carissa opaca contains phytochemicals with exploitable antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and lipid peroxidation inhibitory potential.
Highlights
Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, abbreviated as ROS and RNS, respectively, are species with odd electrons called free radicals
In continuation of our research on C. opaca [17,19], we investigated, in the present work, its roots for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity
Free radical scavenging activities of the methanolic extracts of C. opaca roots and its fractions were determined according to the DPPH methods of Ahmed et al and Brand-Williams et al [21,22]
Summary
Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, abbreviated as ROS and RNS, respectively, are species with odd electrons called free radicals They are very reactive groups of atoms and have potential to damage components of living cells when produced excessively [1,2]. The chemical constituents found in C. opaca include flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, glycosides, tannins and anthroquinones [16]. Antioxidant activities of both fruit and leaves of C. opaca have been studied under different conditions [16,17,18]. In continuation of our research on C. opaca [17,19], we investigated, in the present work, its roots for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. As far as we could explore, this is the first study of its type on the roots of C. opaca
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