Original Articles
Vyas B and Rana A. C
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxygen free radicals play important roles, both beneficial and detrimental, in aerobic life. Excess ROS have been implicated in a variety of patho-physiological phenomena, such as inflammation, ageing, diabetes, cancer and atherosclerosis. Considering the importance of this area, hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from Mesua ferrea Stamen was tested for antioxidant and Antidiabetic activity. The In vitro antioxidant activity of the extract was done by DPPH free radical activity, Super oxide radical scavenging activity and Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The hydro alcoholic extracts of M. ferrea exhibit 73- 83 % scavenging activity at a concentration of 10mg/ml, whereas other extracts showed moderate antioxidant activity. The hydro alcoholic extracts of M. ferrea stamen extract shows 61.30% and 81.35% free radical scavenging activity at a dose of 10 and 20 mg /ml. The Super oxide radical scavenging activity of the extracts MFSE-I and MFSE-II were found as, 20.76% and 66.92% respectively. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was shown by the extracts MFSE-I and MFSE-II as, 40.00% and 52.75% respectively. These results indicate that the plant extract scavenged free radicals significantly at the concentration of 20 mg /ml. The finding of this work indicates that the extract effectively reduces the oxidative stress induced by alloxan and produced a dose dependent reduction in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) at a dose of 150 and 300 mg /kg body weight.