ANTIOXIDANT FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING PROPERTIES OF A HEMEPARASITIC MISTLETOE PLANT, DENDROPHTHOE FALCATA (L.F.) ETTINGSH INFESTED ON ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS HOST TREE.

U.S. Priya and R. Neelamegam*

ABSTRACT

Studies on free radical scavenging activity of ethanol extract of Dendrophthoe falcata samples collected from Artocarpus heterophyllus indicate their potential on DPPH, NO and SO free radical scavenging activity. In general, the ethanol extracts of Dendrophthoe falcata samples exhibit less scavenging activity on DPPH, NO and SO radicals when compared to standard. Dendrophthoe falcata sample ethanol extracts shows significant variations in the DPPH, NO and SO radical scavenging activities. Dendrophthoe falcata tender shoot and bark samples show higher FRAP than the standard at all concentrations tested as compared to leaf sample. The ethanol extracts exhibit significant concentration dependent scavenging effects on free radicals and FRAP. The results indicate that Dendropthoe falcata ethanol extracts could be a source of potent natural antioxidants which act as free radical Scavengers and Fe-chelators, and these properties of health benefits are host dependent.

Keywords: Hemiparasite, Mistletoe, Dendrophthoe falcata, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Free radical scavenging activity, DPPH, NO, SO, FRAP.