IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES OF CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM LINN.

Abstract

Objective: Free radicals and oxidants are produced in the body during normal cellular metabolism and exposure to pollutions and ionizing radiations. They exert beneficial and harmful effects to the human body. Harmful effects of these radicals are destroyed by either antioxidants of our body in situ or antioxidants which are supplied through foods. Hence, the aim of this present study is to assess the antioxidant and free radical scavenging capacity of the easily available edible plant Cardiospermum halicacabum Linn. (Mudakathan keerai).Methods: Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of the aerial parts extract of C. halicacabum was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay, ferrous ion chelating assay, nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging assay, superoxide radical scavenging assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, and lipid peroxidation assay.Results: Remarkable free radical scavenging potential was observed in the ethanolic extract of C. halicacabum with IC50 values on all tested radicals, namely DPPH (IC50=34.06 μg/ml), ABTS (IC50=21.45 μg/ml), ferrous ion chelating (IC50=19.56 μg/ml), NO (IC50=25.16 μg/ml), superoxide (IC50=35.16 μg/ml), hydroxyl (IC50=28.56 μg/ml), and lipid peroxidation (IC50=33.12 μg/ml). The results revealed that ethanolic extract of C. halicacabum Linn. has significant antioxidant activity.Conclusion: The present study suggested that the aerial part extract of C. halicacabum serves as a good source of natural antioxidants.