Free radical scavenging activity and lipoxygenase inhibition of Woodfordia fructicosa Kurz and Betula utilis Wall.

Abstract

Woodfordia fructicosa and Betula utilis were extracted with solvents of different polarities. Antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts were evaluated by a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH), 2,2′-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and lipoxygenase inhibition assay. Ascorbic acid, gallic acid and indomethacin were used as reference standards for DPPH, ABTS and lipoxygenase assays. In both DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities, methanol and water extract of W. fructicosa had showed significant scavenging activity (4.96, 5.08 μg/ml IC50 for DPPH, and 6.4, 7.15 μg /ml IC50 for ABTS assay). In addition to antioxidant activity methanol and water extract of W. fructicosa showed lipoxygenase inhibition activity (45.22 and 74.24% inhibition at 1.0 mg/ml). The methanol and water extract of B. utilis was showed DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity (8.4, 35.08 μg/ml IC50 for DPPH, and 83.18, 37.14 μg/ml IC50 for ABTS assay) but very mild activity against lipoxygenase inhibition activity (18.74 and 28.78% inhibition at 1.0 mg/ml). The results obtained in the present study indicate that W. fructicosa can be a potential source of antiinflammatory and antioxidant agents. © 2008 Academic Journals.