In Vitro Antioxidant Potential of Ethanolic Extract of Momordica dioica Roxb(Cucurbitaceae)

Summary The free radical scavenging potential of the tuberous roots of Momordica dioica was studied by using different in vitro methods viz. DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, iron chelating activity, total antioxidant capacity, and haemoglobin glycosylation assay. Its antioxidant activity was estimated by IC 50 value and the values are 72.56 µg/ml (DPPH radical scavenging), 97.13 g/ml (ABTS radical scavenging), and 56.59 µg/ml (iron chelating activity) for ethanolic extract. Also total antioxidant capacity of ethanolic extract was found to be 26.0 µg/ml equivalents to ascorbic acid. Ethanolic extract showed percentage inhibition of haemoglobin glycosylation at 66.63 and 74.14 at concentrations of 500 and 1000 µg/ml respectively, while that of standard DL α?tocopherol was 61.53 and 86.68 inhibition at sconcentration by haemoglobin glycosylation assay method. In all the methods, the extract showed its ability to scavenge free radicals in a concentration dependent manner. The result indicates that Momordica dioica has moderate antioxidant activity.