%0 Journal Article
%T Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Ruta graveolens L. In Vitro Culture Lines
%A Renuka Diwan
%A Amit Shinde
%A Nutan Malpathak
%J Journal of Botany
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/685427
%X Ruta graveolens L. is a medicinal plant used in traditional systems of medicine for treatment of psoriasis, vitiligo, leucoderma, and lymphomas with well-known anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Therefore antioxidant potential of R. graveolens (in planta and in vitro) was investigated. As antioxidants present in plant extracts are multifunctional, their activity and mechanism depends on the composition and conditions of the test system. Therefore, the total antioxidant capacity was evaluated using assays that detect different antioxidants: free radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS), transition metal ion reduction (phosphomolybdenum assay), reducing power, and nitric oxide reduction. Content of furanocoumarin-bergapten in the extracts showed good corelation with free radical scavenging, transition metal reduction and reducing power, while total phenolic content showed good corelation with nitric oxide reduction potential. Antioxidant activity of in vitro cultures was significantly higher compared to in vivo plant material. The present study is the first report on comprehensive study of antioxidant activity of R. graveolens and its in vitro cultures. 1. Introduction Free radicals, together with secondarily formed radicals, are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of many chronic conditions like atherosclerosis, arthritis, diabetes, ischemia, reperfusion injuries, central nervous system injury, and cancer [1, 2]. Hence, the study of antioxidant status during a free radical challenge can be used as an index of protection against the development of these degenerative processes in experimental condition for therapeutic measures. Ruta graveolens is used in homeopathic, ayurvedic, and unani preparations [3] because this herb is so efficacious in various diseases (Ruta derived from Greek ”°reuo”± means to set free). It has been extensively used in treatment of leucoderma, vitiligo, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, cutaneous lymphomas, rheumatic arthritis and recently reported to possess anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity [4, 5]. Antioxidants in plants are affected by area, climatic conditions, and pest attack [6, 7]; therefore in vitro cultures are being investigated as alternate source of natural antioxidants [8]. For estimation of total antioxidant potential many authors have stressed the need to perform more than one type of antioxidant activity measurement to take into account the various mechanisms of antioxidant action [9]. With this perspective the present study investigates the total antioxidant activity evaluated using DPPH,
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jb/2012/685427/