Abstract

EVALUATION OF IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BENINCASA CERIFERA FRUIT

*Jalarambhai Thakkar, Hitesh Raval, Chirag Patel and Rameshvar Patel

Abstract

The methanolic extract of Benincasa Cerifera fruit was screened for their antioxidant activity using different in-vitro assay procedures. In this study, Antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of Benincasa cerifera fruit was screened with DPPH free radical scavenging assay, super oxide free radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, H2O2 scavenging activity and reducing power ability. In present investigation methanolic extract of Benincasa cerifera fruits exhibited significant DPPH scavenging activity with IC50 value 590.59 μg/ml, Significant scavenger of superoxide radical at IC50 value 555.76 μg/ml, significant OH• radicals scavenging activity with IC50 value 555.28 μg/ml, scavenging activity against H2O2 with IC50 value 423.5 μg/ml and shows significant reducing activity. All the methods are compared to standard (ascorbic acid). Results suggested that fruit extract of Benincasa cerifera possesed strong antioxidant activities. Presence of phytochemicals like flavonoids, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids might contribute to observed antioxidant activity. The tested plant extracts showed promising antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity, therefore justifying their traditional use.

Keywords: Antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging activity, Benincasa cerifera fruit, DPPH, H2O2.