Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Whole Plant Extracts of Lepidagathis pungens Nees: In vitro Evaluation

Objective: The present study was planned to evaluate antioxidant activities, anticancer activity of Lepidagathis pungens Nees., whole plant (L. pungens). Materials and Methods: Antioxidants activity of the ethanol extract of L. pungens Nees., determined by total antioxidant assay, diphenyl‑2‑picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays, hydroxyl radical scavenging assays, and nitric oxide scavenging activity assay methods. Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening showed that the extract of L. pungens possesses flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenolic, and steroid compounds. In the present investigation, quantitative estimation of phenolic compound and flavonoids carried out by spectrophotometric methods, using aluminum chloride and organic solvent separation method, respectively. The extract showed potent activities in all antioxidant assays and it is also comparable to the standard antioxidants in a dose based manner and remarkable properties to scavenge reactive oxygen species which may have been attributed to the high content of hydrophilic phenolics. The IC50 values of all parameters were determined and compared with that of the standard. The extract also exhibited potent anticancer activity done by short‑term cytotoxicity trypan blue exclusions method with the IC50 value of 185 µg/ml. Conclusions: The results obtained in the present study indicate that ethanolic extract of L. pungens is a potent source of natural antioxidants.