Studies on Phytochemicals, Antioxidant, Free Radical Scavenging and Lipid Peroxidation Inhibitory effects of Trachyspermum ammi seeds

Objective: Reactive oxygen species and free radicals generate oxidative stress in the living cells associated with number of chronic diseases. Current research is directed towards finding naturally occurring antioxidants of plant origin. Hence, this study was aimed to determine phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and free radical scavenging potential of ethanolic seed extract of Trachyspermum ammi (ESETA). Methods: A preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out for the analysis of important phytochemicals present in ESETA. Antioxidant potential of ESETA was evaluated by various scavenging models including DPPH, nitric oxide, superoxide, and hydroxyl radical as well as its lipid peroxidation ability in bovine brain extract. Results: The phytochemical analysis of ESETA revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents including alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, phenols and steroids. The ESETA showed the antioxidant capacity as the inhibition of DPPH radical by 73.41%. Also the ESETA had potent inhibitory effect on scavenging nitric oxide, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals by 67.33%, 63.22% and 62.48% respectively. Moreover, the ESETA displayed concentration-dependent reducing power ability and remarkable ferric ion-induced lipid peroxidation inhibitory effect (69.22%) in bovine brain extract. Conclusion: These findings confirm the pharmacological efficacy of T. ammi as a potential source of natural antioxidant.