In vitro and in vivo evaluation of antioxidant activity of Trichosanthes cucumerina aerial parts.

The present study was conducted to determine whether aerial parts of Trichosanthes cucumerina extracts can exert significant antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of a hot water extract (HWE) and a cold ethanolic extract (CE) of T. cucumerina aerial parts was evaluated by assessing its (a) radical scavenging ability and prevention effect of lipid peroxidation in vitro, and (b) effects on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities, in vivo.In vitro antioxidant assays (DPPH, TBARS and carotene-linoleic acid assays) clearly demonstrated the antioxidant potential of HWE and CEE. Moreover, HWE increased SOD: by 91.2% and GPX by 104.4% while CEE increased SOD: by 115.5% and GPX by 96.4%) in CCl4-induced rats. Treatments with HWE and CE prevented the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products by 30.5% and 33.8%, respectively, in liver tissues compared to the rats exposed only to CCl4. In conclusion, the present investigation demonstrates for the first time that components in T. cucumerina aerial parts can exert significant antioxidant activity in vivo and in vitro.