Free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extract of Desmodium gangeticum

IntroductionThe oxidation induced by reactive oxygen species can result in cell membrane disintegration, membrane protein damage, and DNA mutation.It can further initiate or propagate development of many diseases such as cancer, liver injury and cardiovascular disorders, whereby antioxidants with free radical scavenging activity play an important role in protecting damage by reactive oxygen species.MethodsThe present study assessed the contents of phenolics and flavonoids for their in vitro antioxidant activity such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl, superoxide scavenging, reducing power, nitric oxide scavenging, 2,2 azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate), hydroxyl radical, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and chelating ability of ethanolic extract of Desmodium gangeticum.ResultsThe total phenolic content of ethanolic extract of D. gangeticum measured by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent in terms of gallic acid equivalent was 16.2 ± 0.7 mg/mL. The flavonoid content of the plant sample calculated as catechol equivalent was 10.5 ± 0.5 mg/mL. The antioxidative activity of the ethanolic extract of D. gangeticum was correlated with total phenolic content. Generally, the antioxidant activity of D. gangeticum ethanolic extract is comparable to a certain extent with that of butylated hydroxytoluene, mannitol, EDTA and ascorbic acid.ConclusionThe results from this study indicate that the leaves of D. gangeticum possess antioxidant properties and could serve as free radical inhibitors, scavengers or primary antioxidants.