Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Passiflora suberosa L. Leaf Extracts

Abstract

Attached

In the Ayruvedic herbal system in Sri Lanka, Passiflora suberosa is used to treat many diseases including diabetes. The present study was conducted to evaluate in vitro antioxidant potential and cytotoxic activities o f methanol and water extracts, obtained from P. suberosa leaves. P. suberosa leaves were powdered and extracted with methanol and water to obtain the crude extracts. Antioxidant capacity o f different concentrations o f aqueous and methanol extracts were determined by their ability to scavenge free radical using l-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (BPPHy end by antihaemolytic activity. Similar concentrations were further tested for cytotoxicity using brine shrimps cytotoxicity assay. IC50 values were calculated to evaluate both antioxidant properties and toxicity o f plant extracts. According to DPPH assay, IC50 values o f both aqueous and methanol leaf extracts were 74.33 pg/ml and 418.67 pg/ml respectively. The IC50 value o f the aqueous extract o f P. suberosa leaf was significantly less than that o f the standard ascorbic acid, which was found to be 166.17 pg/ml. Whereas IC50 values o f antihaemolytic activity were 80.08 pg/ml and 610.25pg/m l in aqueous and methanol leaf extracts respectively. Results from brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay, showed that IC50 values for aqueous and methanol extracts o f P. suberosa leaves were 60.26 pg/m l and 309.02 pg/ml respectively. The aqueous extract o f P. suberosa leaves exhibited better antioxidant activity and cytotoxic activity than the methanol extract. Hence, present findings suggest that extracts o f P. suberosa leaves possess applicable natural antioxidant and cytotoxic potential. Further, P suberosa leaves possess better antibxidant activity than ascorbic acid, which is a well-established antioxidant. Hence, extracts from P. suberosa leaves can be considered as potential antioxidant and cytotoxic agents as w ell as imminent candidate for cancer therapy.