MIMUSOPS ELENGI BARK AND FRUITS EXTRACTS AS POTENTIAL FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING AGENTS.

Priti S. Patil, Pratima A. Tatke* and Satish Y. Gabhe

ABSTRACT

Mimusops elengi (ME) Linn (Sapotaceae) commonly known as Bakul, is used as tonic, febrifuge, as gargle for odontopathy, inflammation, bleeding gums and healing of ulcers. Mimusops elengi is a rich source of tannin, saponin, alkaloids and glycosides which may be responsible for its therapeutic benefits. Aim of the present study was to evaluate antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of various extracts of Bakul bark and fruits. Chloroform, acetone methanol and aqueous extracts of Bakul bark and fruits were prepared and evaluated for presence of phenolics and flavonoids. Extracts showing maximum phenolic content expressed as mg of GAE/g of dry extract and flavonoid content expressed as mg of RE/g of dry extract were further selected for various in vitro free radicals scavenging assays using DPPH scavenging, ABTS, peroxynitrite radicals, xanthine oxidase inhibition (XOI), superoxide scavenging and lipid peroxidation assay. Methanol and acetone extract of Bakul bark were found to contain higher amount of total phenolics. Presence of both these constituents in Bakul bark was highest in methanol extract followed by acetone extract, aqueous extract and least in chloroform extract. Acetone extract of Bakul fruits alone showed considerable amounts of these constituents as compared to other fruit extracts. The methanol extract of Bakul bark showed lowest IC50 values than acetone extract when evaluated by DPPH, ABTS, peroxynitrite inhibition, xanthine oxidase inhibition, superoxide scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition methods indicating good free radical scavenging activity. Acetone extract showed least free radicals scavenging activities with very high IC50 values against these free radicals.

Keywords: Mimusops elengi, DPPH, ABTS, total phenolics, flavonoids, rutin.