Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of Hygrophila schulli (Buch.-Ham.) Almeida and Almeida. seeds.

Abstract

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. Hygrophila schulli is used in Indian traditional medicine for a wide range of various ailments. To understand the mechanism of pharmacological actions, antioxidant properties of the Hygrophila schulli seed extract were tested using standard in vitro models. The alcoholic extract of Hygrophila schulli exhibited strong scavenging effect on 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, superoxide, nitric oxide radical and ABTS radical scavenging assay. The free radical scavenging effect of Hygrophila schulli extract was comparable with that of the reference antioxidants. The data obtained in the present study suggests that the extract of Hygrophila schulli seed have potent antioxidant activity against free radicals, prevent oxidative damage to major biomolecules and afford significant protection against oxidative damage.