Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity of Sida rhombifolia (L.) ssp retusa (L.)

Sida rhombifolia (L.) ssp. retusa (L.) is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of fever as well as a diuretic. The comparative antioxidant potentials of ethanol extract of roots, stems, leaves, and whole plant were studied. Estimation of total polyphenolic content and high-performance thin-layer chromatography profile were determined. Further inhibition of oxygen-derived free radicals, viz., assays for free radical scavenging, reducing power, superoxide anion scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, and anti-lipid peroxidation, were performed. All the antioxidant activities were compared with standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole and alpha-tocopherol acetate. Extracts were found to be good scavengers of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical in the order root > leaves > whole plant > stem with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 546.1, 852.8, 983.8, and 1,222.5 mu g/mL, respectively. All extracts of this plant showed effective free radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and superoxide scavenging activity. Only root extract inhibited lipid peroxidation in rat liver and brain homogenate. All these antioxidant properties were concentration dependent. In addition, total polyphenolic contents of all the extracts were determined as gallic acid equivalents. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in root extract. The results obtained from the current study indicate that S. rhombifolia ssp. retusa is a potential source of natural antioxidants.