Antioxidant activity and DNA damage inhibition in vitro by a methanolic extract of Carissa carandas (Apocynaceae) leaves

The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant and DNA damage inhibition potential of a methanolic extract of Carissa carandas leaves. The extract had significant (p<0.05), dose-dependent DPPH radical scavenging activity (median inhibitory concentration, 73.1 mu g/ml), total antioxidant activity, H2O2 scavenging activity (median inhibitory concentration, 84.03 mu g/ml) and reducing power activity. The extract also completely protected pBR322 plasmid DNA from free radical-mediated oxidative stress in a DNA damage inhibition assay. The antioxidant and DNA damage inhibition properties of C. carandas can be attributed to a high content of phenolic compounds (84.0 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight of extract), estimated in the Folin Ciocalteau assay. The high antioxidant and DNA damage inhibiting potential of C. carandas could be used to develop antioxidant compounds for therapeutic applications. (C) 2014 Taibah University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.