In vitro Studies on Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Azima tetracantha Lam leaf extracts

The leaves of Azima tetracantha (Salvadoraceae) commonly known as "mulluchangu" is best known for its medicinal properties. In the present study, the antioxidant potency of successive extracts (petroleum ether, hexane, ethylacetate&methanol) was investigated, by determining the secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, tannin and phenolic compounds. The free radical scavenging activity of various solvent extracts of the leaves was assessed by using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide radical (NO), superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical and lipid peroxide generating models. Reducing power and Vit E level in the leaves were also measured. The results show that the methanol extract of the plant A. tetracantha contains significant quantities of the antioxidant principles compared to the other solvent extracts. Similar observations were seen in scavenging the free radicals by the methanolic extract of the leaves of A. tetracantha. Thus the therapeutic property of the leaves of the plant A. tetracantha can be attributed to the antioxidant principles which scavenge the free radicals responsible for pathological severity.