The present study was aimed at investigating the antioxidant activities of the hydromethanolic extract of Phoenix dactylifera (HEPD) fruit (Arecaceae). The antioxidant activities of extract have been evaluated by using a range of in vitro assays and in vivo hepatoprotective model. In case of in vitro studies the IC50 values were found to be 160, 1400, 1115, 1050 μg/ml in DPPH, nitric oxide, superoxide, hydroxyl radical scavenging assays, respectively. In case of in vivo studies the levels of liver enzymatic, non-enzymatic systems [serum glutamate oxalo-acetate transaminases (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminases (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, total protein, catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD)] and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were restored towards the normal value in HEPD treated carbon tetrachloride intoxicated rats. The free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities may be attributed to the presence of phenolic (pyrocatechol and gallic acid contents are 6.2 and 2.906 μg/mg, respectively), vitamin C (ascorbic acid content is 0.66 μg/mg) and flavonoid compounds (4.79 μg/mg) present in HEPD. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the Phoenix dactylifera fruit is a potential source of natural antioxidant.  Keywords: Phoenix dactylifera; Antioxidant, Flavonoid; Total phenolic content; Vitamin C. © 2010  JSR Publications. ISSN: 2070-0237 (Print); 2070-0245 (Online). All rights reserved.  DOI: 10.3329/jsr.v2i1.2643                   J. Sci. Res. 2 (1), 144-157 (2010)

Context. The plant Citrus maxima Merr. (Rutaceae), commonly known as shaddock or pomelo is indigenous to tropical parts of Asia. The objective of present study is to evaluate the methanol extract of Citrus maxima leaves for its antitumor activity against Ehrlich's Ascites Carcinoma cell in Swiss albino mice. Experimental design. The antitumor activity of methanol extract of Citrus maxima leaves (MECM) was evaluated against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line in Swiss albino mice. 2 × 106 cells were inoculated in different groups of animals. MECM (200 and 400 mg/kg BW i.p.) was administered for nine consecutive days. On day 10th half the animals of different groups were sacrificed for determination of tumor and haematological parameters and the rest half were kept with sufficient food and water ad libitum for determination of increase in life span. Result and Discussions. Oral administration of the extract at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly decreased tumor parameters such as tumor volume, viable tumor cell count and increased body weight, hematological parameters and life span in respect of the EAC control mice. Conclusion. Experimental design exhibits significant antitumor activity of the extract (MECM) in a dose dependant manner.

The present paper aims to evaluate antihyperglycemic activity of methanol extract of Citrus limetta fruit peel (MECL) in streptozotocin-induced (STZ; 65 mg/kg b.w.) diabetic rats. Three days after STZ induction, diabetic rats received MECL orally at 200 and 400 mg kg−1 body weight daily for 15 days. Glibenclamide (0.5 mg kg−1 p. o.) was used as reference drug. Blood glucose levels were measured on 0th, 4th, 8th, and 15th days of study. Serum biochemical parameters namely, SGOT, SGPT and ALP were estimated. The TBARS and GSH levels of pancreas, kidney, and liver were determined. MECL significantly (P < 0.001) and dose dependently normalized blood glucose levels and serum biochemical parameters, decreased lipid peroxidation, and recovered GSH as compared to those of STZ control. The present paper infers that in STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats, C. limetta fruit peel demonstrated a potential antihyperglycemic effect which may be attributed to its antioxidant property.

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Annona reticulata belonging to the family Annonaceae is traditionally used as anthelmintic and it is reported to have anticancer activity. Free radicals are known to be involved in various types of diseases like cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders etc. The present study was aimed to evaluate free radical scavenging property of methanol extract of the leaves of Annona reticulata in some in vitro models e.g. DPPH, nitric oxide, superoxide and lipid peroxide radical model. The extract showed good dose-dependent free radical scavenging property in all the models. IC 5 0 values were found to be 3.22, 170.01, 25.12 and 140.12 µg/ml respectively in DPPH, nitric oxide, superoxide and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. Reductive ability of the extract was also tested based on potassium ferricyanide reduction where dose dependant reducing capability was observed. Measurement of total phenolic compounds by Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol reagent indicated that 1mg of the extract contained 146.20 µg equivalent of pyrocatechol. The findings ascertain promising free radical scavenging property of the extract and the antioxidant property of the extract may be due to the high content of phenolic compounds.

Cocos nucifera L. (family: arecaceae) is generally straight unbranched plant, traditionally cultivated for its fruit (coconut) in home gardens. In the present study, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive (analgesic) activity of hydromethanol extract of Cocos nucifera L. (HECN) was evaluated in animal models. HECN showed significant (p < 0.05) and dosedependent anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced paw oedema models of inflammation and the result was comparable with the standard drug diclofenac. In addition, the extract also showed highly significant (p < 0.01) antinociceptive activity. HECN treated group showed increase in the reaction time in hot plate method and decrease the writhing induced by acetic acid in mice when compared with control group animal. The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity observed in the present study could be attributed largely to the presence of its antioxidant phytoconstituents such as flavonoid, saponin and polyphenols.

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