In vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the various extracts of Coccinia cordifolia leaves found in Bangladesh

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of different fractions of Coccinia cordifolia available in Bangladesh. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was studied using DPPH radical scavenging assay, determination of total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Results reflected that the methanol extract had highest antioxidant activity (IC50 value for DPPH was 33.25 μg/ml, total phenolic content was 64.38 in mg/g, Ascorbic acid equivalents and total flavanoid content was 212.35 in mg/g, Ascorbic acid equivalents) compared to the carbon tetra chloride and ethyl acetate extract. In brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the LC50 values for carbon tetra chloride, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were 45.51 μg/ml, 28.86 μg/ml and 25.6 μg/ml respectively which revealed mild cytotoxic potential of the extracts.