Free radical scavenging potential of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl fruits extract

Objective: To elucidate free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extract Lagenaria siceraria (L. siceraria) (Molina) fruit. Methods: The free radical scavenging activity of the L. siceraria (Molina) fruit extract was assayed by using alpha, alpha -diphenyl- beta -picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,20-azinobis 3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ARTS), FRAP, reducing power, chelating ability and beta -carotene bleaching assay. Results: The IC50 values of DPPH and ARTS radical-scavenging activity was found to be 1.95 mg/mL and 19 mg/mL, respectively. In ferrous chelation assay, the percentage of inhibition was found to be 89.21%. The reducing power of ethanolic extract of L. siceraria (Molina) fruit was 0.068 at 1 mg/mL and increased to 0.192 at 5 mg/mL. The beta -carotene linoleate bleaching assay was 46.7% at 5 mg/mL and antioxidant activity using FRAP at 0.305 for 1 mg/mL to 0.969 for 5 mg/mL. Conclusions: The results indicate that L. siceraria (Molina) fruit could be an important sources of natural radical scavengers.