Antioxidant Activity of Methanolic Extract of Vigna unguiculata

Methanolic extract of Vigna unguiculata were examined for antioxidant activity by DPPH, Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and also reducing power assay were carried out. The antioxidant activity was found to be concentration dependent and it may be attributed to the presence of high flavanoid content in the seed of Vigna unguiculata. The methanolic extract has showed a very good antioxidant property compared to standard ascorbic acid. The IC-50 of the extract for DPPH and hydrogen peroxide activity was found to be 37.66 +/- 0.235 mu g/ml, 23 +/- 0.41 mu g/ml respectively and are compared with the standard ascorbic acid which has showed 12.5 +/- 0.408 & 21.5 +/- 0.408 mu g/ml in both respective methods and the absorbance of reducing power assay for the concentration of 100 mu g/ml was observed to be 0.729 +/- 0.0008. Hence it can be concluded that the methanolic extract of Vigna unguiculata has potential a very good antioxidant activity. In the present study the ascorbic acid is as reference standard and positive control. Based on our findings it can also be inferred that the methanolic extracts of Vigna unguiculata seeds have a potent free radical scavenging activity.