A comparative analysis of in vitro antioxidant potential of crude extracts of Tridax procumbens L. in different solvents and in vitro hypoglycemic potential of its hydro-alcoholic extract

Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease with increasing worldwide prevalence. Type 2 DM (T2DM) accounts for majority (90-95%) of diabetes and poses a huge burden on healthcare systems, especially in developing countries (1). Moreover, conventional therapies, as of yet, have been unable to achieve a cure. Hence, systematic and intensive search in medicinal plants for new drugs to treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus seem to be of great utility. Plants have been the major source of drugs in Indian system of medicine and other ancient systems in the world (2,3). The present study aims to study the comparative efficacy of hydroalcoholic, aqueous and petroleum ether extracts of Tridax procumbens (Compositae) as antioxidants for the utilization in the treatment of diabetes. Tridax procumbens, a plant belonging to the daisy family, is found perennially in various tropical and subtropical regions as well as mildly temperate regions worldwide (4). It habitats waste places, road sides and hedges throughout India (2). Listed as a weed and a pest plant, it has been known by several names including ‘Tridax daisy’ in English, ‘Jayanti veda’ in Sanskrit, ‘Ghamra’ in Hindi, ‘Dagadi pala’ in Marathi, ‘Herbe caille’ in French and ‘Thata poodu’ in Tamil. Some reports from tribal areas in India state that the leaf juice can be used to cure fresh wounds, stop bleeding and also as a hair tonic(4), (5,6,9). Many reports have focused on the immense potential of this plant which has antimicrobial, wound healing, anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory properties (6,7,8,12,14). Antioxidant properties have also been demonstrated in various researches (13,15). Antioxidants can scavenge free radicals and play important role in prevention of diabetes (16,18,20). The role of oxidative stress in Abstract The therapeutic potential of crude extracts of aerial parts (stem, leaves and flowers) of Tridax procumbens was screened for in vitro antioxidant potential and alpha amylase inhibitory action. The crude hydro-methanolic, aqueous and petroleum ether extracts were obtained by percolation-maceration method using 50% methanol, double distilled water and petroleum ether as solvents. Phytochemical screening of these extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, phenols, steroids and carbohydrate. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated for free radical scavenging by hydrogen peroxide scavenging and superoxide scavenging potential. The in vitro alpha amylase inhibition action of hydro-methanolic extract of aerial parts of the plant (HMETP) was evaluated for hypoglycemic properties using starch as substrate. Mode of inhibition of the enzyme was also determined. The results indicated that hydro-methanolic extract showed significant antioxidant potency at concentration of 25-80 μg as compared to aqueous and petroleum ether extracts and also possess alpha amylase inhibitory property. Hence it can be suggested that hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Tridax procumbens has potential as an antioxidant and probably in biological systems as a nutraceutical for hypoglycemia.