In vitro antioxidant property of Laticiferous plant species from western Ghats Tamilnadu, India

Purpose: To determine the antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of the ethanol and aqueous extracts from roots of Carissa carandas and Pergularia daemia in various in vitro systems. Methods: Reducing power, DPPH radical, superoxide radical, nitric oxide radical and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assays were carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the ethanol and aqueous extracts from roots of C. carandas and P. daemia. Total phenolic content and total flavonoids were also evaluated. Results: In the DPPH radical scavenging assay the IC50 values were 178.84 and 169.39 μg/ml for ethanol extract of C. carandas and P. daemia respectively. In the nitric oxide radical scavenging assay the ethanol extract of P. daemia showed maximum percentage inhibition (65.14±0.0115), while the aqueous extract of P. daemia exhibited least percentage inhibition (62.69±0.0461) on superoxide radical scavenging, when compared with other extracts. The aqueous extract of C. carandas and P. daemia exhibited 50% scavenging activity at 208.07 and 243.09 μg/ml on H2O2 radical. The reducing power of the extracts increased dose dependently. All the extracts exhibited significant antioxidant (p < 0.01) activity. Conclusion: The extracts of the roots of C. carandas nd P. daemia possess antioxidant properties and could serve as free radical inhibitors or scavengers. Keywords: Carissa carandas; Pergularia daemia; Free radicals; Antioxidant; Phenolic compounds.