Evaluation of Abelmoschus moschatus extracts for antioxidant, free radical scavenging, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities using in vitro assays

Abstract

BackgroundAbelmoschus moschatus Medik. leaves and seeds are considered as valuable traditional medicine. The aromatic seeds of this plant are aphrodisiac, ophthalmic, cardio tonic, antispasmodic and used in the treatment of intestinal complaints and check queasiness. To give a scientific basis for traditional usage of this medicinal plant, the seed and leaf extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant, free radical scavenging, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities.MethodsIn this study, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of A. moschatus extracts were evaluated in a series of in vitro assay involving free radicals, reactive oxygen species and their IC50 values were also determined. The antioxidant activities of the seed and leaf extracts of A. moschatus were determined by total antioxidant, DPPH, and ferrous reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) methods. In addition, the antiproliferative activity was also evaluated using colorectal adenocarcinoma and retinoblastoma human cancer cell lines. Moreover, six bacterial reference strains, two gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus), four gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella enterica paratyphi) and one fungal strain (Candida albicans) were used to evaluate its antimicrobial activity.ResultsThe results from this study showed that the antioxidant activities of A. moschatus as determined by the total phenol, flavonoids, total antioxidant and FRAP methods were higher in leaf than that of the seed extracts. On the other hand, the aqueous overnight seed extract (AMS-I) has shown significant radical scavenging activity as in 1, 1- Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, superoxide and lipid peroxidation as compared to other seed and leaf extracts. The AMS-I and AML-IV have shown activity against six and seven microorganisms respectively. Simulteneously, AMS-IV and AML-IV have demonstrated potential antiproliferative activity against two human cell lines - Colorectal adenocarcinoma (COLO-205) and retinoblastoma (Y79).ConclusionThe seed and leaf extracts of A. moschatus possess significant antioxidant activity and could serve as free radical inhibitors or scavenger, or substitute, probably as primary antioxidants. The plant possesses moderate antibacterial activity against bacterial strains used in this study. Hydroalcoholic seed and leaf extracts also exhibited antiproliferative activity against two human cancer cell lines. A. moschatus may therefore, be a good candidate for functional foods as well as pharmaceutics.

Genetic diversity revealed by morphological traits and ISSR markers in 48 Okras (Abelmoschus escullentus L.)

“…The green pods are rich sources of vitamins, calcium, potassium, and other minerals (Shamsul and Arifuzzaman 2007). The leaves and seeds of okra are considered a valuable traditional medicine (Gul et al 2011). Okra seeds contain abundant mineral elements, including iron, potassium, calcium, and manganese.…”

“…For example, its leaves and seeds are considered as valuable traditional medicine. Sub-Saharan people use okra in the folk medicine to alleviate fever and pain, in the treatment of conjunctivitis, rheumatism, hemorrhoid, abscesses rheumatism, hemorrhoid (Gul et al 2011).…”

Reactivity of phenolic compounds towards free radicals under in vitro conditions

“…Higher absorbance of the reaction mixture indicated greater reductive potential. In the reductive potential assay, an easily reduced oxidant (Fe 3+ ) is used in stoichiometric excess and the phenolic compounds are supposed to act as reductants (Gul et al 2011). …”

In vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Artemisia nilagirica Extracts

“…have been involved in varied functional roles including curative properties, are reflected as main contributors of antioxidant properties [37][38][39] . The phytochemicals act as antioxidants, by acting as reducing agents, hydrogen donators, singlet oxygen quenchers as well as metal chelators owing to their redox abilities [27] . The present study is in continuation of our search for small medicinal active molecules and evaluation of their biological activity.…”

“…The ABTS +• scavenging capacity of the extracts was compared with those of ascorbic acid and the percentage inhibition calculated as: ABTS radical scavenging activity (%)=(Abs control -Abs sample )/Abs control ×100. Radical scavenging activity of different extracts against stable DPPH was measured as per our previous report [27] .…”