Pharmacologia2044-46482044-4656Science International10.3923/pharmacologia.2012.377.386Ipomoea Species]]>ParekhK.K. PatelA.M. ModiA.J. ChandrashekharH.R. 9201239Aim of study: Numerous species of the genus Ipomoea are widely used in traditional medicine as powerful cathartics and are reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic and anticancer activities. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate Ipomoea pes-caprae, Ipomoea batatas and Ipomoea nil for their antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. Materials and methods: Successive petroleum ether and methanolic extracts of different plant parts viz., leaves, stem, roots and whole plant of Ipomoea pes-caprae, Ipomoea batatas and Ipomoea nil were evaluated for their free radical scavenging activity by different in vitro assays including DPPH radical scavenging assay, Nitric oxide radical inhibition activity, ABTS radical scavenging assay, Alkaline DMSO assay, Haemolysis prevention, Hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay, Hydroxyl radical scavenging assay and Lipid peroxidation assay. Methanolic extracts of these Ipomoea plants were also investigated for their total phenolic and flavonoid content. Free phenolics isolated from the most active methanolic extract were also evaluated for antioxidant activity. Polarity based successive fractionation was performed for the methanolic extract using chloroform and ethyl acetate. Cytotoxicity of methanolic extracts, petroleum ether extracts and isolated free phenolics was evaluated by MTT and SRB assay using HEp-2 cell line. Results: All methanolic extracts of selected Ipomoea plants showed the presence of Glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates and tannins. Methanolic extracts showed better antioxidant activity when compared to petroleum ether extracts with IC50 value in the range of 25-475 and 5-50 μg mL-1 for DPPH and ABTS methods, respectively. Methanolic extract of Ipomoea pes-caprae leaves, Ipomoea nil leaves and Ipomoea pes-caprae roots showed comparatively better antioxidant activity. These extracts also showed comparatively higher phenolic and flavonoid content. Free phenolics isolated from leaves of Ipomoea pes-caprae showed better activity than crude methanolic extract when investigated by nitric oxide, ABTS and Hydrogen peroxide methods but when tested by DPPH and alkaline DMSO method, crude extracts showed better activity. All methanolic extracts and isolated free phenolics showed good cytotoxicity against HEp-2 cell line with CTC50 value in the range of 50-100 μg mL-1. Conclusion: The successive methanolic extract of selected Ipomoea plants showed potent ability to scavenge different types of free radicals generated by various in vitro assays. The total phenol and flavonoid content estimation of these methanolic extracts revealed their presence in good quantities. Among different methanolic extracts tested for antioxidant activity, the leaf extract of Ipomoea pes-caprae was the most potent extract. The same extract contained highest amount of total phenolics and flavonoids which suggests that the antioxidant nature of the extract is due to its high phenolic and flavonoid content. Among the fractions of the above extract, prepared according to their polarity, the ethyl acetate fraction showed best activity. Ethyl acetate fraction is believed to possess phenolics and flavonoids. Thus, this study reconfirms that the potent antioxidant activity of Ipomoea pes-caprae leaf is due to its high phenol and flavonoid contents. All methanolic extracts and free phenolics showed good cytotoxicity against Hep-2 cell line with CTC50 value in the range of 50-100 μg mL-1. So it can be concluded that Ipomoea pes-caprae, Ipomoea batatas and Ipomoea nil are having good antioxidant and cytotoxic activity and their antioxidant activity is mainly due the phenolics and flavonoids. Further studies are needed to prove the anticancer activity of these plants.]]>Ainsworth, E.A. and K.M. Gillespie,20072875877Beutler, E.,1975Chang, C.C., M.H. Yang, H.M. Wen and J.C. Chern,20022002Cook, N.C. and S. Samman,199676676Dekkers, J.C., L.J. van Doornen and H.C. Kemper,199621213238Dini, I., G.C. Tenore and A. Dini,2009Ipomoea batatas tubers: Isolation, characterization, quantification and antioxidant properties.]]>113411419Garrat, D.C.,1964Vol. 3,pp: 456-458pp: 456-458Jayaprakasha, G.K., L.J. 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Comuzzo,2006in vitro antioxidant activities of some Nigerian vegetables.]]>1429437Salim, A.S.,199637295298Schimming, T., K. Jenett-Siems, P. Mann, B. Tofern-Reblin and J. Milson et al.,200566469480Singh, N.P.,1988Vol. 2.pp: 522pp: 522De Souza, M.M., A. Madeira, C. Berti, R. Krogh, R.A. Yunes and V. Cechinel-Filho, 2000Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br.]]>698590Unnikrishnan, M.K. and M.N.A. Rao,1992301195196Yin, Y., Y. Li and L. Kong,2008Ipomoea batatas).]]>5623632368Yoshimoto, M., S. Yahara, S. Okuno, M.S. Islam, K. Ishiguro and O. Yamakawa,2002Ipomoea batatas L.) leaf.]]>6623362341Eisenbrand, G., B. Pool-Zobel, V. Baker, M. Balls and B.J. Blaauboer et al.,2002in vitro toxicology.]]>40193236