Phytochemical evaluation and antioxidant potential of Praecitrullus fistulosus fruit extracts.

Abstract

Praecitrullus fistulosus (cucurbitaceae) also called Indian round gourd or tinda is a squash-like cucurbit. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the phytochemicals, enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidant potential of P. fistulosus fruit extracts. This plant is rich in phytochemicals such as flavanoids, phenols, tannins, cardiac glycosides and terpenoids. All extracts (Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl acetate, Aqueous) possess high antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. In vitro antioxidant activities of all crude extracts were significant and comparable with the standard Ascorbic acid and BHT. Activity of the enzymatic antioxidants such as SOD, CAT, GST and MDA were observed to be 25.27U/mg protein, 2359.47 U/ml, 2433.46 n moles of CDNB conjugated/minute and 4878.64 n moles/g tissues at 100mg/ml respectively. All extracts possess high antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging activity. In vitro antioxidant activities of all crude extracts were significant and comparable with the standard Ascorbic acid and BHT. Results of the present study suggested that P.fistulosus could be a potential source of natural antioxidant that could have great importance as therapeutic agents in preventing oxidative stress-related degenerative diseases.