In-vitro Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Leaves of Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp

Objective: To study the in vitro antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract of leaves of Cajanus cajan Linn. Materials and methods: The antioxidant activity, reducing power, nitric oxide scavenging activity, superoxide radical scavenging activity, anti lipid peroxidation activity and total phenolics of the ethanolic extract of Cajanus cajan were studied in vitro as parameters to investigate its antioxidant potential. Results: The reducing power of the extract was found to be concentration dependant. The absorbance increased with increasing amount of the sample. The antioxidant activity, nitric oxide scavenging activity, superoxide radical scavenging activity and anti lipid peroxidation activity were also concentration dependant with IC₅₀ value being 324.59 μg/ml, 46.42 μg/ml, 35.24 μg/ ml and 338.02 μg/ml respectively. The activities were found to be comparable with the reference drugs. Amount of total phenolics was found to be 39.8 μg of pyrocatechol equivalent per mg of extract. Conclusion: The results obtained in the present study indicate that ethanolic extract of C. Cajunus is a potential source of natural antioxidants.