Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Scurrula parasitica L. on in vivo Antioxidant Status of Diabetic Rats

Background: Scurrula parasitica L. is a herbaceous growing shrub of Loranthaceae family traditionally used for diuretic, tranquilizing and hypotensive activity. It shows anti-diabetic, cytotoxic, anticancer, anti-hepatoxic and immunomodulatory activity as it has secondary metabolites like alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, etc. The secondary metabolites have potential antioxidant activity as they have the ability to scavenge free radicals and also improve the in vivo antioxidant status. However, no study has been conducted to evaluate their effect on in vivo antioxidant status. Methods: The in vitro antioxidant activity was estimated by three in vitro assay methods viz. DPPH free radical scavenging assay, Ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay and Total phenolic content (TPC) assay while the in vivo antioxidant status was evaluated by estimating the levels of SOD, Catalase, GPx and MDA. Result: The ethanol extract of the leaves shows maximum in vitro antioxidant activity in case of DPPH free radical scavenging assay and 50% ethanol extract shows highest antioxidant activity for FRAP assay and Total phenolic content assays. The ethanol extract of the plants improves the in vivo antioxidant status viz. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase, Glutathione peroxidise (GPx) and Malondehyde (MDA) among the STZ induced diabetic rates.