In vitro Antioxidant Activities of Various Extracts of Male Cone and Stem of Cycas circinalis L.

Abstract

The current study examines the antioxidant capacity of several extracts made from Cycas circinalis L. male cone and stem. It was examined by performing various enzymatic and non-enzymatic assays using various extract. Ascorbic acid, a common antioxidant, was tested with four extracts: aqueous extract of cone (AECCC), methanolic extract of cone (MECCC), aqueous extract of stem (AECCS), and methanolic extract of stem (MECCS). A concentration-dependent increase in activity showed by the reducing power assay, and the order of efficacy was:  standard > MECCS > MECCC > AECCS > AECCC. Using a concentration range of 10–10,000 µg/ml, total antioxidant capacity showed a somewhat different trend: standard > MECCS > AECCS > AECCC > MECCC.  The methanolic extract’s strong antioxidant capacity was confirmed by DPPH radical scavenging activity; MECCS (IC₅₀ = 3.73 µg/ml) and MECCC (IC₅₀ = 3.8 µg/ml) had significantly lower IC₅₀ values than AECCC and AECCS. AECCS (IC₅₀ = 4.367 µg/ml) and AECCC (IC₅₀ = 5.517 µg/ml) were shown to be the most efficient aqueous extracts in the nitric oxide radical scavenging experiment. These results were supported by a study of total phenolic and flavonoid content, which revealed that the aqueous extracts had a greater phenolic content while the methanolic and water extracts had varying flavonoid contents. All things considered, the study identifies Cycas circinalis L. as a promising natural antioxidant source with potential application in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations.