Total Phenol Content and In Vitro Antioxidant Potential of Helicanthus elastica (Desr.) Danser-A Less-explored Indian Mango Mistletoe.
Natural products are an important source of antioxidant molecules like tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, etc., Helicanthus elastica (Desr.) Danser (Loranthaceae) is one such plant belonging to the category of mistletoe, and grows commonly on the mango trees in India. In the present study, an attempt has been made to assess the antioxidant properties of the plant. Ethanol extract of H. elastica growing on mango tree was studied using different in vitro models. Shade-dried whole plant material was extracted with ethanol by cold percolation. Fifty milligrams of the alcohol extract of H. elastica was weighed and dissolved in 10 ml of methanol. The resultant 5 mg/ml solution was suitably diluted to obtain different concentrations. Total phenol content, reducing power assay, and scavenging of free radicals like nitric oxide, hydroxyl, hydrogen peroxide, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl were studied by standardized in vitro chemical methods using ascorbic acid as the standard. The total phenol content of the plant was found to be 1.89% w/w. The extract showed good reducing power as well as scavenging of free radicals (nitric oxide, hydroxyl, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide) at concentrations ranging from 5 to 100 μg/ml. The study revealed the antioxidant potential of H. elastica.
Department of Pharmacognosy, SDM Centre for Research in Ayurveda and Allied Sciences, Laxminarayana Nagar, Kuthpady, Udupi, Karnataka, India.
Koppala Narayana
KN
Sunil Kumar
Department of Phytochemistry, Captain Srinivasa Murthi Drug Research Institute for Ayurveda (CCRAS), Arignar Anna Government Hospital Campus, Arumbakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Ariyamuthu
A
Saraswathy
Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Former Dean of Science, Presidency College (Autonomous), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Swaminathan
S
Amerjothy
Department of Biochemistry, Captain Srinivasa Murthi Drug Research Institute for Ayurveda (CCRAS), Arignar Anna Government Hospital Campus, Arumbakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Thomas
T
Susan
Department of Experimental Medicine, SDM Centre for Research in Ayurveda and Allied Sciences, Laxminarayana Nagar, Kuthpady, Udupi, Karnataka, India.
Basaviah
B
Ravishankar
Ascorbic acid; Free radicals; Helicanthus elastica; Loranthaceae; Mango mistletoe; Total phenol content