Ficus racemosa Stem Bark Extract: A Potent Antioxidant and a Probable Natural Radioprotector

Abstract

Ethanol extract (FRE) and water extract (FRW) of Ficus racemosa (family: Moraceae) were subjected to free radical scavenging both by steady state and time resolved methods such as nanosecond pulse radiolysis and stopped-flow spectrophotometric analyses. FRE exhibited significantly higher steady state antioxidant activity than FRW. FRE exhibited concentration dependent DPPH, ABTS•−, hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation with IC50 comparable with tested standard compounds. In vitro radioprotective potential of FRE was studied using micronucleus assay in irradiated Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cells (V79). Pretreatment with different doses of FRE 1h prior to 2 Gy γ-radiation resulted in a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the percentage of micronucleated binuclear V79 cells. Maximum radioprotection was observed at 20 μg/ml of FRE. The radioprotection was found to be significant (P < 0.01) when cells were treated with optimum dose of FRE (20 μg/ml) 1 h prior to 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 Gy γ-irradiation compared to the respective radiation controls. The cytokinesis-block proliferative index indicated that FRE does not alter radiation induced cell cycle delay. Based on all these results we conclude that the ethanol extract of F. racemosa acts as a potent antioxidant and a probable radioprotector.

Phytochemical constituents and antioxidant properties of acetone extract of <i>Cleome gynandra</i> (L.) growing in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

“…Although all plant parts exhibited their highest inhibition at a concentration of 0.5 mg / ml. This could imply that the scavenging activity of ABTS radical by the plant extracts is dose responsive and could be helpful in treating radically related diseases especially at higher concentrations (Veerapur et al, 2009;Wintola and Afolayan, 2011).…”

Pharmacognostic Studies and In Vitro Antioxidant Potential of Traditional Polyherbal Formulation of West Sikkim with Asparagus Spp

“…9 The intake of natural antioxidants are related to minimizing the risks of common but hazardous diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and many other diseases related with ageing. 10,11 Natural antioxidants have been observed in various unexplored plant resources like wild fruits, 12 leafy vegetables 13 and even bryophytes. 14 Extraction of antioxidants from a plant material can be done by using different techniques and different solvents as these compounds have diverse chemical nature and often unique distribution in the plant matrix.…”

Antidiarrhoeal and antioxidant properties of ethanol leaf extract of Pseudocedrela kotschyi

“…Ingestion of natural antioxidants through food and medicine prepared from plants can reduce the complications connected with the presence of free radicals (Veerapur et al, 2009). The results further suggest that P. kotschyi leaf could be used in food industry as natural antioxidant.…”