Antioxidant Potential of Cuscuta reflexa and Lathyrus odoratus

Abstract

In this study, antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of two
medicinally important plants Lathyrus odoratus (L. odoratus) and Cuscuta reflexa
(C. reflexa) collected from different districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were
assessed. Methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa and Lathyrus odoratus have been
analyzed for their free scavenging radical activity by utilizing 1, 1- diphenyl-2-
picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. In a dose dependent manner, all extracts
showed antioxidant property as compared to the standard drug i.e. ascorbic acid
i.e. 2.65. The IC50 value of C. reflexa collected from Bhimber (CRB) and Kotli
(CRK) was 2.90 μg/ml and 1.12 μg/ml respectively, whereas IC50 value of L.
Odoratus collected from Kotli (LOK) and Mirpur (LOM) was found to be 28.35
μg/ml and 12.95 μg/ml respectively as compared to IC50 value of standard
ascorbic acid that was 21.22
μg/ml. Total antioxidant activity also increased in a dose dependent manner. The
phytochemical analysis showed that these plants are rich in glycosides, alkaloids,
tannins, saponins, anthocyanin, flavonoids and phenolics. These results may show
that these plants species have antioxidant property and may act as a
cardioprotective agent.