EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SEED EXTRACTS OF CUCURBITA PEPO, OCIMUM BASILICUM, TRACHYSPERMUM AMMI AND LINUM USITATISSIMUM – INDIVIDUAL AND SYNERGISTIC EFFECT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/8ntbj863Abstract
Antioxidants have become academically intriguing molecules due to their numerous benefits, such as anti-aging and anti- nflammatory properties. They play a significant role in combating excess free radicals and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the imbalance between the free radicals and antioxidants produced by the body, that causes cell and tissue damage. Synthetic antioxidants are added to foods in food technology to enhance their nutritional value and to eliminate potential concerns like cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In recent years, research on the antioxidant properties of natural foods and their components is gaining momentum. The present study aimed at screening of phytochemicals like terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolics and evaluation of antioxidant potential in seed extracts of Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin), Ocimum basilicum (Basil), Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) and Linum usitatissimum (flax) in three different solvents. The detailed study analyzed the combined antioxidant potential of the selected 4 seeds in comparison with individual seeds in methanol, water and ethyl acetate solvents separately. Antioxidant effect was studied by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assays. The DPPH assay results were expressed in terms of percentage inhibition of free radicals. Gallic acid was used as a standard. Cumulative percentage inhibition was found to be greater than individual seed extracts in all 3 solvents. IC50 values were used as metrics to express antioxidant potential. The IC50 values were significantly lesser for combined seed extracts than individual seed extracts. Among the three solvents, the cumulative antioxidant potential is greater in methanolic extract (IC50 value 0.069mg/ml) than aqueous (IC50 value 0.518 mg/ml) and ethyl acetate extracts (IC50 value 0.082 mg/ml). Results of FRAP assay were directly correlated to absorbance. With increase in concentration of the seed extracts, absorbance had shown steady increase reflecting the correlation between concentration vs antioxidant potential. The results prove the significance of antioxidant power of combined seed extracts and further investigation may lead to the use of these combined super seeds as natural antioxidants in providing health benefits and preventing chronic diseases.
Keywords: Combined antioxidant effect, DPPH, FRAP, Flavonoids, Polyphenolics, Free radicals, Oxidative stress, Percentage inhibition
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