Evaluation of In vitro Free Radical Scavenging potential of the Novel siddha formulation Idivallathi Mezhugu using DPPH, NO and ABTS radical scavenging assay

Free radicals are fundamental to any biochemical process and represent an essential part of aerobic life and metabolism. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS) are products of normal cellular metabolism. The most common ROS include superoxide anion, H2O2, peroxyl (ROO-) radicals and reactive hydroxyl (OH-) radicals and the nitrogen derived free radicals are nitric oxide and peroxynitrite anion (ONOO-). These reactive species play an important role in pathogenesis of several oxidative stress related diseases like carcinogenesis, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and neurological degenerative diseases. India is known for its cultural, moral and also for traditional therapies. The widely practicing system among all is siddha system of medicine. Siddha is a novel therapy comprises of multidisciplinary approach it comprises of the herbal and polyherbal components. Often the formulation available in the Indian system of medicine is blend of herb and herbominerals by which it acts by multiple mechanism. One such novel formulation in siddha is Idivallathi Mezhugu (IM) used for treating various ailments in humans.There is an increasing trend to replace synthetic antioxidants, which are of safety concern with the natural antioxidants available from plant extracts or isolated products of plant origin. The main aim of the present investigation is to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the formulation IM using DPPH, NO and ABTS radical scavenging assay. The results of the study indicates that the DPPH radical scavenging activity of the formulation IM has shown dose dependent inhibition of radical ranges from 6.57 ± 5.57 to 51.49 ± 10.6 at the concentration varying from 10 to 100 μg/ml. NO radical scavenging activity of the IM has revealed potential radical scavenging activity ranges from 10.93 ± 1.59 to 57.81 ± 6.3. Similarly in ABTS assay the percentage inhibition ranges from 7.85 ± 2.28 to 61.33 ± 12.48 at the concentration varying from 10 to 100μg/ml. In conclusion the formulation IM possesses promising antioxidant activity against all three tested assay and hence it may be effective in the clinical management of the several oxidative stress related disorders.