DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i06.030

Pages: 2309-2312

The in vitro antioxidant properties of different extracts (water, alcohol, alcohol: water, hexane or chloroform extract) of Muntingia Calabura roots were evaluated using various assays. The water and alcohol: water (1:1) extracts of Muntingia Calabura roots were rich with carbohydrates (65.3mg to 138 mg), proteins (1.12 to 2.63mg), polyphenols (7.32 to 14.06mg), flavonoids (6.91 to 14.34mg) and Ascorbic acid when compared to other extracts. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity (4.31 to 9.13mg). In addition, the Muntingia Calabura root water extract at a dosage of 80µg showed more hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and at a dosage of 300µg, the water extract showed more superoxide radical scavenging activity. These results establish the antioxidant potential of Muntingia Calabura root extract could be used as natural antioxidant source.