Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Leaves of Memecylon edule Roxb

Free radical scavenging potential of leaves of Memecylon edule. Roxb was studied using superoxide radical scavenging effect, hydroxyl radical scavenging effect, lipid peroxide assay, nitric oxide scavenging effect. The content of superoxide radicals was studied by NBT reduction method, hydroxyl radical by Deoxy-ribose degradation method, lipid peroxide level by estimating the thiobarbituric acid releasing substances (TBARS) and the nitric oxide radical by Griess method. The ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts were used for the study with reference to the ascorbic acid as standard drug. It was found that the aqueous extract showed significant free radical scavenging potential compared to the ethanolic extract. The IC₅₀ for aqueous extract was found to be 502.9μg/ml, 493.78μg/ml, 469.6μg/ml and 227.8 μg/ml for superoxide radical scavenging effect, hydroxyl radical scavenging effect, lipid peroxide assay and nitric oxide scavenging effect respectively. The extracts studied can provide efficient antioxidant protection by complementary mechanisms, such as free radical scavenging and metal ions reduction with the non polar extracts.