Comparative Free Radical Scavenging Efficacy of Leaves Extract of Moringa Oleifera and Petals Extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa

Abstract

Antioxidants are agents or compounds that are capable of inhibiting the oxidation processes that occur under the influence of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet oxygen (O.), hydroxyl (.OH), peroxide (H 2 O 2) and superoxide (O 2 .) radicals. Antioxidants play crucial role in the defense mechanism of living cells against the pathologies associated with the attack of ROS and RNS. 1-3 Antioxidants mediate their role of preventing oxidant-induced cell damages either through the reduction of ROS generation, scavenging ROS, or interfering with ROS-induced alterations. 1 By its role of reducing the oxidative damages in the body and inhibiting lipid peroxidation, antioxidants retard the progress of many diseases. 1,3,4 An imbalance between ROS and antioxidants defense system results to abnormal physiological condition known as oxidative stress 1,3. During energy production in the body by oxidation process, the associated oxygen molecule has the tendency to generate free radicals 5. These free radicals which are by-products of the oxidation attacks specific region in the body, leading to oxidative stress, and ultimately results to the damage of affected tissues and organs. Under stress, the living cell end up having more reactive oxygen species than antioxidant, this imbalance leads to deleterious damage of the cellular components, particularly lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and deoxyribonucleic acid mutation. 3 This is considered to be the major reason for many diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, hypertension among others. 1,2 Even though almost all organisms possess antioxidants and several enzyme systems such superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase to protect them from oxidative damage, these systems are inadequate to prevent the damage entirely, hence, the need to supplement antioxidants for efficient and adequate scavenging of free radical. 2 Currently available synthetic antioxidants including Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Gallic acid among others have been found to cause negative health effects, 6,7 hence, the search for antioxidants without side effects, from natural sources, with keen interest in plants due to the bioactive secondary metabolites they produce. 8,9 It has been established that anti-oxidants play important role in the prevention of many chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, asthma, hepatitis and arthritis. 10,11 The consumption of traditional diets prepared with spices, medicinal and aromatic ABSTRACT Background: Use of molecules with antioxidant properties have evolved as effective strategy for preventing oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Moringa oleifera and Hibiscus sabdariffa are ancient plants with antioxidant properties, and have served numerous therapeutic purposes, in addition to their nutritional benefits. Aim:...

Effects of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Biochemical Constituents on Kidney, Liver and Brain of Wister Rats

“…It is however important to note that there is need for more specific reports, especially considering the scope of the research activities leading to the present results. While the plant shows huge potentials to alleviate hunger and provide herbal and plant-derived medicinal products, especially for the developing nations; it is important to establish the primary effects of the leaf phytochemical activities and interactions with the body tissues and organs [14]. Cytoplasmic vacuolation is characterized by the present of clear vacuoles in both brain and hepatic tissues.…”

Analysis of polyphenols and anti-oxidant activity of Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa L.) from Himachal Pradesh-A North-Western State of India

“…One of the earlier reports mentioned that ethanol extract of B. diffusa had a higher FRAP value than chloroform, petroleum ether and methanol extracts (Rachh et al, 2009). At pH 6.6, potassium ferricyanide (Fe 3+ ) was reduced to potassium ferrocyanide (Fe 2+ ) in the presence of an antioxidant (Garba et al, 2019). According to one report, the maximum absorbance of the ethanol extract of B. diffusa root was 0.35 nm obtained at 140.0 mg/ml extract concentration, while the maximum absorbance of gallic acid was 0.319 nm at 100 mg/ml (Mohammad et al, 2011) The epicatechin content in the root extract was the highest at 2.031±0.039 µg/ml, while in the leaf extract, it was 0.631±0.017 µg/ml, whereas in the stem extract it was low at 0.028±0.027 µg/ml.…”