Free-radical scavenging activity of Bergia suffruticosa (Delile) Fenzl

Bergia suffruticosa (Family Elatinaceae) is an important Indian medicinal plant, traditionally used to repair bones and applied on sores. The plant has not been studied much. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the plant showed the presence of high amount of phenolics, tannins and flavonoids. Subsequent quantification showed the presence of 8.8% w/w phenolics (calculated as gallic acid), and 7.5% w/w tannins. This high amount of tannins and phenolics prompted us to evaluate its antioxidant activity. We studied the antioxidant activity of B. suffruticosa whole plant in three in vitro models: DPPH radical scavenging activity, superoxide scavenging activity and measurement of reducing power. Methanolic extract of whole plant of B. suffruticosa showed a very good DPPH radical scavenging activity (EC50 of 13.1 mu g) and superoxide scavenging activity (EC50 of 139.4 mu g) in a dose-dependent manner. The extract showed dose-dependent reduction ability (Fe3+ to Fe2+ transformation) with a maximum absorbance of 1.195 at a concentration of 300 mu g of the extract.