Screening of in vitro free radical scavenging activities of the fruit extracts of Psidium guajava L.

Abstract

The objective of the current investigation was to evaluate the in vitro free radical scavenging properties of fruit extracts of two varieties of Psidium guajava L. (PG) i.e., Lalit (LA) and Allahabad safeda (AS). The ethanolic fruit extracts of LA and AS of PG were obtained from the soxhlet extraction procedure and the same was used for in vitro antioxidant assays. Total phenols, flavonoid contents and free radical scavenging assays viz., ABTS, DPPH, nitric oxide and superoxide were analysed at 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 µg/mL concentrations. Phytochemical investigation exhibited higher phenols, flavonoid contents in fruit extracts of LA compared to AS. The fruit extracts of PG showed remarkable ABTS, DPPH, nitric oxide and superoxide free radical scavenging activity in a dose dependent manner. The fruit extracts of LA exhibited higher free radical scavenging activity in contrast to AS. The present investigation revealed, a high in vitro antioxidant property of LA due to its higher phenolic content. Hence, the fruit extract of Psidium guajava L. can be used in therapeutics for the treatment of pathologic conditions involving free radicals.