Free Radical Scavenging Action of Solanum Torvum Fruit Extracts Using In Vitro Antioxidant Methods

A plant-based diet protects against chronic oxidative stress-related diseases. Dietary plants contain variable chemical families and amounts of antioxidants. Highly reactive free radicals can cause tissue damage. The extent of tissue damage is the result of the balance between the free radicals generated and the antioxidant protective defense system. The free radical scavenging and hence the antioxidant activity of different extracts of S. torvum fruit was studied against DPPH and nitric oxide free radicals using ascorbic acid as standard equivalent. Percentage of inhibition was found to increase in a dose dependant manner. Aqueous extracts were found to be more effective antioxidant followed by methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether and hexane respectively in both DPPH and NO scavenging methods. A concentration of 400 µg/ml of the aqueous extract was found to have an activity equal to ascorbic acid, a potent antioxidant. This study indicate that S. torvum fruit is an excellent source of natural antioxidant and could be an effective nutritional food supplement, which inturn will have therapeutic applications.