Acta Pharm. 58 (2008) 215-220
Short communication
Antioxidant
and free radical scavenging potential of Citrullus colocynthis (L.)
Schrad. methanolic fruit extract
SUNIL
KUMAR, DINESH KUMAR, MANJUSHA, KAMAL SAROHA, NIDHAN SINGH and BHOODEV VASHISHTA
sunilmadhuban@yahoo.com
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kurukshetra
University, Kurukshetra-136119, Haryana, India
Department of Botany, Kurukshetra University,
Kurukshetra-136119, Haryana, India
Accepted April 18, 2008
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) is a medicinal plant
traditionally used as an abortifacient and to treat constipation, oedema,
bacterial infections, cancer and diabetes. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the plant showed the presence of large
amounts of phenolics and flavonoids. Subsequent quantification showed the
presence of 0.74% phenolics (calculated as gallic acid) and 0.13% flavonoids
calculated as catechin equivalents per 100 g of fresh mass. The presence of
phenolic compounds prompted us to evaluate its antioxidant activity. In the
present study, methanolic fruit extract of C.
colocynthis was screened to evaluate its free-radical scavenging ability. The highest
antioxidant and free radical scavenging effect of the fruit extract was observed at a concentration
of 2500 µg mL-1.
Keywords: Citrullus colocynthis (Cucurbitaceae) fruit, methanolic extract, antioxidants, free radical scavenging