Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activity Azima tetracantha lam

Antioxidants play an important role in inhibiting and scavenging free radicals, thus providing protection to human against infections and degenerative diseases. Current research is now directed towards natural antioxidants originated from plants due to safe therapeutics. Azima tetracantha Lam is used in Indian traditional medicine for a wide range of various ailments. To understand the mechanism of pharmacological actions, antioxidant properties of the Azima tetracantha Lam leaves extract were tested using standard in vitro models. The ethanolic extract of Azima tetracantha Lam exhibited strong scavenging effect on superoxide, nitric oxide radical and reducing power radical scavenging assay. The free radical scavenging effect of Azima tetracantha Lam extract was comparable with that of the reference antioxidants. The data obtained in the present study suggests that the extract of Azima tetracantha Lam leaves have potent antioxidant activity against free radicals, prevent oxidative damage to major biomolecules and afford significant protection against oxidative damage.