Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera) Seed Extract

Authors:

Raajeswari PA^1* and Meenakshi C²

Volume 2, Issue 1

Abstract

Background: Lotus the National flower of India is commonly called as Pink lotus belonging to the species Nelumbo nucifera. The seeds of the mature lotus are of great importance and are extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine for their free radical scavenging effects. Hence the present study was undertaken to assess the Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective activity of methanol, ethanol and acetone extracts of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) seeds by in vitro method. Methods: The 3 extracts of Lotus seed were tested for its antioxidant potential using DPPH, FRAP Reducing power activity and H2O2 scavenging activity. All the analysis was carried out using UV - Visible spectrophotometer. The Hepatoprotective activity of lotus seed extract was analysed on HepG2 cell lines using MTT assay. This was carried out in 96 well plates using methanolic extract of lotus seed at concentration range 25μl, 50 μl and 75 μl for 48 hours which showed a dose dependent cytotoxic effect. Results: The results of the present study revealed that DPPH activity was greater in Acetone extract (86.6 per cent), the percentage inhibition in FRAP was found to be high in methanolic extract with 93.28 per cent. Among the 3 extracts, aqueous extract of lotus seed showed highest reducing power with 81.2 per cent. Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity was found to be high in methanolic extract with the highest inhibition of 67.52 per cent. From this methanolic extract was found to be the best than the others thus hepatoprotective activity was tested in methanolic extract. On evaluation it was observed that the least concentration of extract exhibited more pronounced activity than the other concentration which was evident from the Formazan formation. Conclusion: Thus lotus seeds are medicinally versatile and can be used as a nutraceutical for delivering bio active components.

Keywords:

Hepatoprotective activity; Formazan; Nutraceutical

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