IN- VITRO ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES, ACUTE AND SUBACUTE TOXICITY STUDIES OF TEPHROSIA CALOPHYLLA ON ALBINO WISTAR RATS

The evaluation of acute oral toxicity of chloroform extract of Tephrosia calophylla (CETC) and methanolic extract of Tephrosia calophylla (METC) and sub-acute toxicity of CETC was done on albino Wistar rats. The animals (female) were divided into four groups containing 3 animals in each group normal control, and 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of freshly prepared extracts respectively, every 24 h orally for 28 days. At the end of each study, physical parameters and hematological analysis were evaluated. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) observed with control in terms of body weights, food and water intake, hematological parameters, and gross abnormalities. No mortality was recorded. Hence, the study was concluded as oral administration of CETC for 28 days does not cause toxicity. In conventional therapy, various studies have been done to identify antioxidants from the plant sources. Excessive production of free radicals causes direct damage to the biological molecules such as DNA, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates leading to progression and tumor development. Phytochemicals from the plant origin serve as natural antioxidant molecules. Antioxidant potential of CETC & METC was studied by using different in-vitro models like DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl–2–picrylhydrazyl) assay, superoxide free radical scavenging activity, and nitric oxide scavenging activity. In the present investigation, CETC & METC showed potent antioxidant activity as indicated by the DPPH, nitric oxide, and superoxide free radical were significantly decreased. Hence, it concluded that the extracts of Tephrosia calophylla possess potent in-vitro antioxidant activity suggesting its role as an effective free radical scavenger.