In vitro evaluation of free radical scavenging activity of Pistia stratiotes.

Abstract

Free radical stress leads to tissue injury and progression of disease conditions such as arthritis, hemorrhagic shock, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hepatic injury, aging and ischemia, reperfusion injury of many tissues, gastritis, tumor promotion, neurodegenerative diseases and carcinogenesis. The present study was aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of Pistia stratiotes leaves by different methods like reductive ability, nitric oxide radical assay and superoxide scavenging activity. PSLE showed strong antioxidant activities in different systems like reducing power, superoxide anion scavenging and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities when compared with different standards such as ascorbic acid and BHT. Plant extract showed concentrationdependent scavenging activity on all reactive species used. Presumably, Pistia stratiotes leaves extract (PSLE) functions as an antioxidant to scavenge free radicals and reduces free radical induced cell injury.