Abstract

EVALUATION OF THE DPPH FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF WRIGHTIA TINCTORIA R. Br. LEAF, BARK AND SEED EXTRACTS

Beena Jose*, Jesy E.J., Ritty J. Nedumpara

Abstract

The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the leaf, bark and seed extracts of Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R. Br. (Apocynaceae) was evaluated. Among these, DPPH radical could be scavenged most effectively by Wrightia tinctoria bark ethyl acetate extract with IC50 value 67.30±2.4μg/ml and was quite comparable with the standard antioxidant L-ascorbic acid (IC50 value 62.5±2.5μg/ml). The antioxidant activity of W. tinctoria leaf methanol extract (IC50:72.9±3.5μg/ml) was not significantly different from that of Lascorbic acid (IC50: 62.5 ±2.5μg/ml). The remarkable antioxidant activity exhibited by the plant extracts can be attributed to the synergic effect of the active compounds present in it. The results obtained showed that the bark ethyl acetate and leaf methanol extracts of Wrightia tinctoria can be considered as good sources of natural antioxidants and can be incorporated into the drug formulations.

Keywords: Wrightia tinctoria, Apocynaceae, DPPH radical scavenging activity, natural antioxidants, drug formulations.