Abstract

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIALS OF THE STEM BARK, ROOT, LEAF AND FRUIT PULP OF ANNONA MURICATA L.

Renu G., Chittibabu C. V.* and Ranjithkumar A.

Abstract

Annona muricata commonly called soursop, is an edible fruit bearing tree belonging to the Annonaceae family with a long history of traditional use. Various parts of the plant have been traditionally used in treating a plethora of human diseases including fever, malaria, parasitic infections, arthritis and insomnia. The objective of the present study was to assess and compare the antioxidant activities of the methanol extract of the stem bark, root, leaves and fruit pulp of A. muricata using in vitro models such as 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, phosphomolybdenum, ferric reducing potential, nitric oxide scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging and 2,2'-azino-bis(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging assays. While comparing the antioxidant potential of the different parts, the root and stem bark displayed the highest DPPH scavenging activities with IC50 values of 17.04μg/ml and 20.21μg/ml. The maximum inhibition percentage for phosphomolybdenum assay at 100μg/ml was obtained for stem bark (89.23%) followed by fruit pulp (88.61%). The stem bark also showed maximum ferric reducing power, nitric oxide scavenging activity and ABTS antiradical property with IC50 values of 41.95 μg/ml, 16.12μg/ml and 14.19μg/ml respectively. The fruit pulp exhibited the strongest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (52%) followed by leaf (48%) at 100μg/ml concentration. Values were comparable with standard ascorbic acid. These findings suggest that the extracts of A.muricata possess potent in vitro antioxidant activity, capable of protection against free radical mediated damage and may have applications in preventing and curing various diseases.

Keywords: Annona muricata, antioxidant activity, free radicals, IC50 values.