In vitro antioxidant studies of a colonial ascidian Ecteinascidia venui

Abstract

Oxidative stress has been implicated with the pathology of many diseases such as inflammatory conditions, cancer, diabetes and aging. Free radicals contribute to more than one hundred disorders in humans. Therefore the need for the search of antioxidants from natural origin has been greatly felt in the recent years. Keeping this view on, an attempt was made to evaluate free radical scavenging activities of various concentrations of different extracts of Ecteinascidia venui by methods like DPPH, Hydroxyl, superoxide, ABTS and reducing power using in vitro models. Petroleum ether extract of Ecteinascidia venui at 800 ?g/ml showed better scavenging activity in DPPH (114.21%). The methanol extract (129.14, 120.71%) exhibited highest hydroxyl and ABTS cation radical scavenging activity. Ethanol (129.17%) extract noted strong Superoxide dismutase assay. Like the antioxidant activity, reducing power of the extracts increase with increase in concentration. Ascorbic acid and trolox were used as standard and the results were compared. This study indicates the significant potential of Ecteinascidia venui and suggests its safe use as a therapeutic antioxidant.