In vitro free radical scavenging activity of methanol extract of the leaves of Mimusops elengi Linn.

In the present study, antioxidant potential of the methanol extract of the leaves of Mimusops elengi Linn. was evaluated by using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, reducing power and total antioxidant capacity. The extract showed significant activities in all antioxidant assays compared to the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid in a dose dependent manner. In DPPH scavenging assay the IC50 value of the extract was found to be 43.26μg/ml while the IC50 value of the reference standard ascorbic acid was 58.92 μg/ml. Total antioxidant activity was also found to increase in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, M. elengi extract showed strong reducing power. These results suggest that Mimusops elengi may act as a chemopreventative agent, providing antioxidant properties and offering effective protection from free radicals. Key words: Mimusops elengi, antioxidant, reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, reactive oxygen species  doi: 10.3329/bjvm.v6i2.2336 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2008). 6 (2): 197-202