Abstract

ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF ADIANTUM AETHIOPICUM L.

*Abhijit S. Limaye and Shankar L. Laware

ABSTRACT

Naturally occurring secondary metabolites produced in plants form an integral component of the human diet. Many of the compounds belonging to phenolic group are potent antioxidants that suggest a direct correlation between high flavonoids intake and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and other age-related diseases. Fronds of Adiantum aethiopicum L. were collected at two different growth stages viz. vegetative and reproductive, from local area of Pune. The methanolic extracts were prepared and the crude extract was used for its antioxidant potential. The methanolic extracts showed considerable amounts of total phenol, tannins, flavonoids and ascorbic acid content. The reproductive fronds exhibited significantly higher values than vegetative fronds for aforesaid metabolites. The methanolic crude extracts possessed free radical scavenging activity (IC50: 53.34 ± 0.09 g / ml) as revealed by DPPH assay. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was carried out for the plant sample showed significant results at 500 g / ml concentration. Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was performed using calf thymus DNA and the results proved that frond extract protect DNA from oxidative damage. Adiantum is one of the important pteridophytes mentioned in Ayurvedic system of medicine. The literature has provided many uses of Adiantum aethiopicum L. as a traditional medicinal fern. But, this is first in vitro report showing A. aethiopicum L. as potent source of natural antioxidants. Hence, the present investigation suggests A. aethiopicum L. as promising plant source in food, health and cosmetic industries.

Keywords: Adiantum, Antioxidant, DPPH, hydroxyl radical oxidative damage.