Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of Ruellia tuberosa

The antioxidant activity of Ruellia tuberosa L. (Acanthaceae) was investigated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging assay and the hydrogen peroxide-induced luminol chemiluminescence assay. The methanolic extract (ME) and its four fractions of water (WtF), ethyl acetate (EaF), chloroform (CfF), and n-hexane (HxF) were prepared and then subjected to antioxidant evaluation. The results of both methods revealed that R. tuberosa possesses potent antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activities of the different fractions tested decreased in the order of EaF > CfF > ME > WtF > HxF according to the hydrogen peroxide-induced luminol chemiluminescence assay, and results were the same with the exception of the rank order of HxF and WtF according to the DPPH free radical-scavenging assay. The results provide useful information on the pharmacological activities associated with free radicals of this traditional folk remedy.