EXPLORING ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND DNA PROTECTION POTENTIAL OF CHONEMORPHA FRAGRANS

Chonemorpha fragrans (Moon) Alston is a liana belongs to family Apocynaceae. Due to its ethanobotanical importance, it is used intraditional medicinal systems as a part of various medicinal preparations. In the work presented here the plant has been explored for its antioxidant potential and DNA protection ability. The antioxidant potential of C. fragrans was determined using DPPH, FRAP, Phosphomolybdanu and H₂O₂ Scavenging Capacity. Phenol and flavonoid content was measured followed byCorrelation analysis between antioxidant activities andphenols and flavonoid content. In addition, DNA protection ability of extracts was evaluated using double stranded plasmid DNA. C. fragrans extracts have shown significant antioxidant potential. Phenol content showed high correlation with Phosphomolybdenum reduction potential where as flavonoid content with Phosphomolybdenum as well as H₂O₂ radical scavenging potential. All the extracts exhibited an ability to protect the DNA against devastating effects of Fentons reagent except methanol roots, stem bark, in vitro and callus extracts. The extracts have shown significant antioxidant activityand Phenol, flavonoid content was found to contribute towards antioxidant potential of C. fragrans. The extracts also showed the DNA protection potential pointing toward its pharmaceutical importance.