IN-VITRO FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING AND HYPOGLYCEMIC EVALUATION OF FRUIT EXTRACT AND SOLVENT FRACTIONS OF ZIZIPHUS OENOPLIA MILL (RHAMNACEAE)

Objective: Stem Bark, Root, and fruit of Ziziphus oenoplia (Rhamnaceae) has been used in traditional health systems to treat diabetes and many more disorders in southern Asia as India, Sri Lanka, and Burma. However, the anti-oxidant and hypoglycemic potential of the fruit of this valuable plant is not scientifically validated till date. The aim of the present study is to evaluate in vitro free radical scavenging and hypoglycemic effect of ethanol extracts and solvent fractions of Ziziphus oenoplia fruit. Methods: The ethanol extracts and three solvent fractions of Ziziphus oenoplia fruit were evaluated at different concentration (20- 640 µg/ml) for free radical scavenging activity by using in-vitro DPPH method and different concentration (25-800 µg/ml) for hypo-glycemic potentials by using α – glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes (intestinal enzymes which slow the digestion of carbohydrates and delay glucose absorption) inhibitory activity. Results: The outcome of present study indicates that maximum anti-oxidant activity was produced by ethanol crude extract (87.66±1.54% Inhibition at 640 μg/mL) with IC₅₀ value 2.72±0.62 followed by chloroform fraction (66.76±0.92% Inhibition) compare to ascorbic acid standard (90.72±0.76 Inhibition) with IC₅₀ value 1.33±0.45. In similar manner maximum α – glucosidase inhibitory and α-amylase effect shown by ethanol crude extract 85.2 ± 1.7 % Inhibition and 88.43 ± 0.58 % Inhibition at 800 μg/mL respectively compare to acarbose as reference drug 97.2 ± 0.48 and 99.12± 0.72%  Inhibition. Conclusion: The result showed the potential effects of Z. oenoplia fruit extract and fractions as anti-oxidant by scavenging diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals and as postprandial hypoglycemic by inhibiting α–amylase, α–glucosidase enzyme in dose dependant manner compare to ascorbic acid and acarbose as standard drug. The claimed traditional use as anti-oxidant and hypoglycemic has a scientific background.