Free Radical Scavenging and Anti Protease Activity of Methanolic Extract of Mitracarpus villosus (SW)

Abstract

Mitracarpus villosus (Sw) is a herb from Rubiaceae family used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several diseases such as hepatic, skin and venereal diseases, diarrhea and dysentery. It has also been used to treat ringworm and eczema, fresh cuts, wounds and ulcer. The aerial parts of this plant have also been used to make lotion and skin ointment used for skin diseases and infections. In this study we can evaluate the In vitro antioxidant and antiprotease activity of the methanolic extracts from Mitracarpus villosus (Sw). The methods used for antioxidant potentials include DPPH, ABTS, Nitric oxide and Hydroxy radical scavenging assays. We can evaluate the anti-inflammatory potentials by anti-protease activity. Antioxidant assays were done by using the concentrations in the range 20 -100μg/ml and the results were compared with the standard ascorbic acid. The anti-protease activity was done using BAEE (N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester) as substrate and Phenyl methyl sulphonyl fluoride (PMSF), is used as standard. The methanolic extract of the Mitracarpus villosus (Sw) showed better activity for both antioxidant and anti protease assays.