In vitro antioxidant activity of extracts from the leaves of Hura crepitans (Euphorbiaceae) - a comparison of two assay methods

Year 2011, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 133 - 138, 14.08.2013

Ganiyat Oloyede

Abstract

Hura crepitans (Sandbox tree) of the family of
Euphorbiaceae has enjoyed many ethnomedicinal applications
but little is known about its chemistry and pharmacology. This
research reports the in vitro antioxidant activity of this plant
using two different assay methods. Scavenging effect on 2,
2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical at 517 nm and on
hydroxyl radical generated by hydrogen peroxide at 285 nm in
a UV-Visible spectrophotometric assay. Butylatedhydroxyanisole
(BHA), vitamin C and α-tocopherol were used as reference
standards. There is generally decrease in absorption of DPPH
caused by the extracts. The percent inhibition of the crude
extract increases with a decrease in concentration in the DPPH
photometric assay. The percent inhibition of hexane, ethylacetate
and butanol fractions was low except for the butanol fraction
(50.7 % at 1.0 mg/ml) when compared with standards vitamin
C (90.8 % at 1.0 mg/ml) and BHA (95.4 % at 1.0 mg/ml). In the
hydrogen peroxide assay however, the hexane, ethylacetate and
butanol fractions scavenged hydroxyl radical more effectively
than the standards. The crude extract possessed maximum %
inhibition in both the DPPH and hydrogen peroxide free radicals.
Therefore, H. crepitans has very weak activity as a hydrogen
donor but its activity as hydroxyl radical scavenger is high when
compared to standards used. This study suggests that the crude
and fractions obtained from H. crepitans possess antioxidant
activities which can counteract or prevent oxidative damage in
biological systems caused by the presence of hydroxyl radical.

Keywords

Ion channels, cell biochemistry, biophysics, calcium signaling, cellular function, cellular physiology, metabolism, apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide synthase, ageing, antioxidants, neuropathy

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