ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF IPOMOEA LEARI

Abstract The antioxidant properties of four successive extracts of Ipomoea leari Paxton and the successive chloroform extract fraction, ILCF-28, were tested using standard in vitro and in vivo models. The amount of the total phenolic and flavonoid content was also determined. The successive chloroform extract, ILC and its fraction ILCF-28 exhibited strong scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), Nitric oxide, 2,2 -azino-bis (3ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical cation, Reducing power, p-NDA and hydrogen peroxide methods. The free radical scavenging effect of ILC and ILCF-28 was comparable with that of reference antioxidants. The ILCF-28 having the highest content of phenolic compounds and strong free radical scavenging effect when administered orally to male albino rats at 100, 200 and 400mg/kg body weight for 7 days, prior to carbontetrachloride (CCl 4 ) treatment, caused a significant increase in the levels of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a significant decrease in the levels of lipidperoxidation (LPO) in serum, liver and kidney, in a dose dependent manner, when compared to CCl 4 treated control. These results clearly indicate the strong antioxidant property of the plant Ipomoea leari . The study provides a proof for the ethnomedical claims and reported biological activities. The plant has, therefore, very good therapeutic potential.