Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity of selected Peruvian medicinal plants (original) (raw)

Citrus limetta and Citrus maxima belong to the genus Citrus (Rutaceae) and are rich in flavonoids, vitamin C, folate, dietary fibre, carotenoids etc. Different parts of both plants are responsible for the prevention of cancer, other degenerative diseases, antiinflammatory activity and antidiabetic activity etc. The present study was aimed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of the methanol extracts of Citrus limetta fruit peel (MECL) and Citrus maxima (MECM) leaves in different models such as DPPH, superoxide radical and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The total phenolic compounds present in the extracts were estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent. Both the extracts have shown good free radical scavenging activity in a dose dependent manner. The IC 50 values for MECM were found to be 5.5 µg/ml, 79.16 µg/ml, 174.97µg/ml and 111.5µg/ml respectively for DPPH, superoxide radical, nitric oxide radical inhibition and lipid peroxidation assays. The IC 50 values for DPPH, superoxide radical, nitric oxide radical inhibition and lipid peroxidation assays of MECL were 7.36 µg/ml, 9.36 µg/ml, 136.45 µg/ml and 111 µg/ml respectively. Measurement of total phenolic compounds by Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent indicated that 1 mg extract contains 126.85 and 116.7 µg equivalent of pyrocatechol in MECL and MECM respectively. The present study reports significant in vitro antioxidant activity of the test plants.