Antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of methanol extract of Tabernaemontana divaricata leaves

Abstract

The methanolic extract obtained from the leaves of Tabernaemontana divericata (Family: Apocynaceae) was evaluated for in vitro antioxidant potential by determination of total antioxidant capacity, assay of nitric oxide scavenging activity and reducing power test. The extract was also screened for its cytotoxic effect using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The results revealed potent antioxidant property in all antioxidant assays compared to the reference antioxidant, ascorbic acid in a dose dependent manner. Further, the methanolic extract of Tabernaemontana divericata showed significant cytotoxic effect (LC50: 3.12μg/ml) compared with positive control, Vincristine Sulphate (LC50: 0.331μg/ml).Key Words: Tabernaemontana divaricata; Apocynaceae; Antioxidant; Cytotoxicity.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v1i2.9446International Current Pharmaceutical Journal 2012, 1(2): 27-31