<i>In vitro</i> free radical scavenging activity of methanol extract of the leaves of <i>Mimusops elengi</i> Linn.

Abstract

In the present study, antioxidant potential of the methanol extract of the leaves of Mimusops elengi Linn. was evaluated by using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, reducing power and total antioxidant capacity. The extract showed significant activities in all antioxidant assays compared to the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid in a dose dependent manner. In DPPH scavenging assay the IC50 value of the extract was found to be 43.26μg/ml while the IC50 value of the reference standard ascorbic acid was 58.92 μg/ml. Total antioxidant activity was also found to increase in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, M. elengi extract showed strong reducing power. These results suggest that Mimusops elengi may act as a chemopreventative agent, providing antioxidant properties and offering effective protection from free radicals. Key words: Mimusops elengi, antioxidant, reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, reactive oxygen species  doi: 10.3329/bjvm.v6i2.2336 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2008). 6 (2): 197-202