Euphorbia hirtais a well-known ethnomedicinal plant with diverse biological activities. The aim of the present study is to investigate the antiradical activities of various solvent extracts of the aerial part ofE. hirtaas well as to determine the possible cytotoxicity of these extracts. The aerial part ofE. hirtawas extracted with different solvent systems in order to increase polarity. The solvents used were hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), ethanol (EtOH), and methanol (MeOH). The contents of total phenols and total flavonoids were analyzed by UV spectrophotometry, whereas the potential free radical-scavenging activities of the extracts were evaluated using the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), theβ-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching system, and reducing power. The EtOH extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (237.9±2.26 mg GAE/g), and DCM extract scored the highest total flavonoid content (121±0.15 mg CE/g). The MeOH extract showed a potent free radical-scavenging activity as evidenced by low EC50at 42.81 µg/mL. Interestingly, the EtOH extract demonstrated the highest reducing power activity with EC50value of 6.18 µg/mL. Inβ-carotene-linoleic acid assay, oxidation of linoleic acid was effectively inhibited by DCM extract with96.15±0.78%. All the extracts showed no cytotoxic activity against Vero cells.
Effect of Freeze-Thaw Treatment on Free Radical Scavenging and Linoleic Acid Reducing Potential of Nelumbo nucifera Rhizome Starch: Response-surface Optimization
