Antioxidant Activity of Hydroethanolic Extracts of Asteracantha longifolia and Moringa oleifera Using DPPH, Nitric Oxide, Hydrogen Peroxide and Frap Model

Abstract

Aims: The current study was conducted to evaluate and compare the antioxidant activity of 70% ethanolic extracts of Asteracantha longifolia (aerial parts and roots) and Moringa oleifera (stem and leaves) using four In vitro models: DPPH, nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Study Design:  The plant parts, such as the aerial parts and roots of Asteracantha longifolia and the stem and leaves of Moringa oleifera were collected from nearby areas of Sambalpur district. Dust particles were removed by washing with tap water followed by distilled water and then the plant materials were air-dried. The dried plant material was ground to a fine powder using a mechanical grinder and kept in airtight polybags.  Ascorbic acid was used as a standard antioxidant reference. All three plant extracts demonstrated as dose-dependent antioxidant activity in the tested models. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Sambalpur University in the year 2024-2025. Methodology: The powder samples were taken for Soxlet extraction. 60g powder of aerial parts and 54g of Asteracantha longifolia root; 54g of Moringa oleifera stem and leaves were used for Soxhlet extraction. A hydro-alcoholic solution (ethanol: distilled water, 70:30) was used as a solvent to extract the plant extract. Then the antioxidant activity study was performed through DPPH, nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Results: All three plant extracts demonstrated as dose-dependent antioxidant activity in the tested models. Among them, Moringa oleifera exhibited the highest free radical scavenging activity in DPPH (51.32% inhibition), NO (55.34%), and H₂O₂ (53.99%) assays with the lowest IC₅₀ values, indicating potent antioxidant potential. In the FRAP assay, all extracts showed appreciable ferric reducing ability, with Asteracantha longifolia showing slightly higher values than Moringa oleifera. Plant extract yield was highest in percent in case of Moringa oleifera aerial part plant sample with hydroethanolic extraction. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the tested plant extracts, especially Moringa oleifera, can serve as promising sources of natural antioxidants. Further investigations are warranted to isolate the active constituents, as well as in vivo evaluations to establish the full therapeutic potential of these extracts in oxidative stress-related disorders.