Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Pyracantha crenulata (D. Don) M. Roem. (locally known as Ghingharu in Kumaun region) is a medicinally important wild fruit crop endemic to Himalayan hills. A laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant properties of methanolic and aqueous extracts of leaves and fruits of the plant employing 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant power (FRAP) and Anti-inflammatory assays. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also calculated. Highest antioxidant activity was observed in the leaves (methanolic extract) for which the DPPH scavenging activity had the lowest Inhibitory concentration50 (IC50) value (26.12 µg/mL) and FRAP activity was the highest (27.63 µg Gallic acid equivalents/ mg extract). The methanolic extract of leaves also showed the highest protein denaturation inhibition percent with the lowest IB50 value (44.77µg/mL). Moreover, the maximum phenolic (16.217µg Gallic acid equivalents/mg) and flavonoid content (24.487 µg/mg Quercetin equivalents/mg) were also possessed by the methanolic extract of leaves. The study concluded that the dried leaves of P. crenulata possess significantly higher antioxidant properties than the dried fruits. Hence, not just the fruits but leaves of P. crenulata can also be used for medicinal purpose.