In Vitro Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Aqueous and Methanolic Leaf Extracts of Aegle Tamilnadensis Abdul Kader (rutaceae)

Objective: The present study was aimed to find out antioxidant property of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Aegle tamilnadensis Abdul Kader (Rutaceae) leaf. Methods: The phenolic and flavanoid contents of methanolic and aqueous extract were determined. The antioxidant potential of the leaf samples was evaluated by using five in vitro assays such as 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical, reducing power and metal ion chelating assays. Results: The phenol and flavanoid contents were found to present in considerable quantities. The methanolic leaf extract showed better ability to scavenge superoxide radical (IC50 value of 50.50±0.84 μg /ml) followed by hydroxyl radical (IC50 value of 232.95±1.10 μg/ml). It also showed good reducing power ability. In contrast, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals were effectively scavenged by aqueous leaf extract (IC50 value of 82.05±1.02 μg/ml). Both the methanolic and aqueous leaf extracts of A. tamilnadensis leaves at 1000 μg/ml showed maximum scavenging activity (91.01% and 95.67%) in quenching metal ions. Conclusions: The results obtained from the present study indicated that the A. tamilnadensis leaf extract is a potent source of natural antioxidants and both the aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts possessed antioxidant property. However methanolic leaf extract showed better antioxidant activity than the aqueous leaf extract.