Abstract

FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING POTENTIAL, REDUCING POWER AND HEMOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF ARNEBIA BENTHAMII

Mohd Aslam Rather*, Devi Prasad Pandey, Ram Paul Singh And Yashwant Singh

Abstract

Cellular metabolism and exogenous agents leads to formation of free radicals. These species react with biomolecules in cells, including DNA. The resulting damage to DNA, which is also called oxidative damage to DNA, is implicated in mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and aging. Mechanisms of damage involve abstractions and addition reactions by free radicals leading to carbon-centered sugar radicals and OH- or H-adduct radicals of heterocyclic bases. Antioxidants act as free radical scavengers and are able to protect the human body from many of the diseases. Arnebia benthamii used in ayurvedic medicine has been reported to possess various pharmacological activities. But there is no report about the free radical scavenging activities of this plant. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to analyze total phenolic, flavonoid content, free radical scavenging potential, hemolytic activity and reducing power of different extracts obtained from the roots, Leaves and Flowers of Arnebia benthamii extensively by various methods. The results of the present study showed that the ethanolic extract of leaves showed maximum total phenolic contents (ALAL 50.14 ± 0.140 mg GAE/100mg) while chloroform extract of leaves showed maximum flavonoid content (ALCH 3.95 ± 0.040 mg Quercetin/100mg). Maximum reducing power was observed in ethanolic extract of roots (ARAL 0.506 ± 0.003, at 300 μg/ ml and 0.722 ± 0.002 at 400 μg/ ml both higher than standard). Highest free radical scavenging was observed in ethanolic extracts of leaves and roots (ALAL105.79 ± 0.43, ARAL 103.79 ± 0.97 higher than standard 102.6 at 500 μg/ ml) respectively. Ethyl acetate extract of leaves possess highest hemolytic activity (ALEA 91.67 ± 0.28 at 500 μg/ ml). Extract rich in phenolic and flavonoid contents had potent antioxidant activity and were significant in comparison with all the positive controls used in this study. The possible antioxidant mechanism of the ethanol extract can be due to its hydrogen or electron donating and direct free radical scavenging properties. Hence, the ethanol extract represents a source of potential antioxidants that could be used in pharmaceutical and food industries.

Keywords: Arnebia benthamii, free radicals, Hemolysis, antioxidant assays, phenolic compounds, Flavonoid