Antioxidant activity of flavonoid from guazuma ulmifolia la ink. leaves and apoptosis induction in yeast cells

Abstract

Antioxidant activity was considered to be correlated with atherosclerosis prevention through apoptosis modulation. Guazuma ulmifolia Lamk. has been reported as potential anti oxidant, however the potency of its flavonoid as apoptosis modulator has not been investigated. The research objective was to investigate the antioxidant activity and the effect of Guazuma's flavonoid on the growth of yeast cells. Antioxidant activity of Guazuma ulmifolia Lamk. leaf was determined by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay. The cellular effect was investigated using Saccharomyces cerevisiae system. Results showed that antioxidant activity of the flavonoid at 100 ppm was higher than a-tocopherol 200 ppm (88.52%). Flavonoid was found to induce petite colony formation from 75% of the total colonies and induced membrane blebbing of yeast cells indicating apoptotic events. There was lesser colony growth (>30% reduction) in flavonoid-treated cells than in those treated with 4% glucose as control, suggesting that the flavonoid from Guazuma ulmifolia Lamk. leaves could induce apoptotic events on yeast cells. Guazuma's flavonoid has inhibitoiy effect on cell proliferation, indicating the effect of flavonoid on other mechanisms in cellular activities. © 2014 Asian Network for Scientific Information.