Antioxidant activity of Mammea longifolia bud extracts

Mammea longifolia buds (nagkesar) are extensively used in India as a minor spice. The antioxidant activity of its methanol (NM) and aqueous-ethanol (NW) extracts were evaluated by several in vitro experiments, e.g., DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide radicals and H2O2-scavenging assays as well as inhibition of Fe(II)-induced lipid peroxidation of rat liver mitochondria. The extracts were found to possess impressive antioxidant activity in all the tests, the activity of NW being higher than that of NM in most of the assays. The differential activities of NW and NM could be correlated with their respective total phenolic, flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents.