ABSTRACT:
The present study was undertaken to investigate the antioxidant and cytotoxicity potential of methanol and petroleum ether extracts of the Trichosanthes dioica roxb. (PM, PE), Benincasa hispida cong (CM, CE), Trichosanthes cucumerina linn. (CHM, CHE) plants. For phytochemical screening, crude extract was tested for the presence of different chemical groups. In Trichosanthes dioica roxb, presence of alkaloids, saponins and flavonoids for methanol extract and carbohydrate, alkaloids are for Pet ether extract were identified. Carbohydrates, steroids, alkaloids, saponins and tannins are present in the methanol extract of Benincasa hispida cong; the pet ether extract was found to have carbohydrates, steroids and tannins. The methanolic extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina linn was found to have carbohydrates, steroids, alkaloids, tannins and glycosides. Carbohydrates, steroids, alkaloids, saponins and glycosides were present in the pet ether of this plant. In vitro antioxidant activity of the extracts were performed using DPPH radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assays. The most prominent antioxidant activity was observed with the CHM in the DPPH free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 858.41±30.12729 microgram/ml in comparison with that of standard ascorbic acid (IC50 value of 15.707± 1.181microgram/ml. In total antioxidant capacity method, PE showed the highest activity (873.3±60.38692 mg ascorbic acid/g). The total phenolic and flavonoids content were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu Reagent and aluminum chloride colorimetric method respectively. The highest total phenols and total flavonoids content were found in PM with the value of 259.375±61.87184 mg gallic acid/g and 52.95±0.212132 mg quercetin/g, respectively. In nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, the most prominent antioxidant activity was observed in CE with IC50 value of 1021.9± 16.235 microgram /ml. The Cupric reducing capacity of the extracts were strong and dose dependent manner, and PE showed very good dose depended reducing capacity that is comparable to ascorbic acid. The cytotoxicity was determined using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The most potent cytotoxicity was shown by CHM with LC50 value 2.59 µg/ml among all the tested extracts. The comparison of different plant extracts used in the present study in various tests showed wide variation in phenolic content and varying degrees of radical scavenging and reducing capacity. The obtained results indicate that the investigated plants could be potential sources of natural antioxidants and can be used for various types of diseases.