Comparative Study on the Nitric Oxide Scavenging and Hemolytic Activity of Fresh Leaf Juice and Dry Leaf Extracts of Clinacanthus Nutans (Burm. F) Lindau

摘要

The purpose of the present study was to compare nitric oxide scavenging and hemolytic activities of dry leaf extracts and fresh leaf juice of Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.f) Lindau. Methanol and cold aqueous extracts of the dry leaf were prepared by macerating in the respective solvent at room temperature. Hot aqueous extract was prepared by mixing the leaf powder in distilled water and the concoction was heated on a hot water bath set at 100ºC. Fresh leaves juice was prepared by direct grinding of fresh plant leaves without adding any solvent. In vitro radical scavenging was determined by using Griess reagent and hemolytic activity was assayed on a healthy human erythrocyte. All the extracts demonstrated dose-dependent nitric oxide radical scavenging activity comparable to that of the positive reference compound, quercetin. The extracts showed no hemolytic activity at the concentration of 0.5-2.0 mg/ml. Fresh leaf juice and dry leaf extracts of C. nutans showed nitric oxide radical scavenging potency and non-hemolytic.