Abstract:
This work presents the investigation of anti-oxidant activity of Fluggea leucopyrus to validate its
anti-cancer potential as F. leucopyrus has been found as a good healer for cancer by traditional
practitioners in Sri Lanka.
The aqueous extracts of leaves and bark of F. leucopyrus was subjected to anti-oxidant assay. It
was the DPPH radical scavenging assay. In this method, the ability of the scavenging of DPPH
radicals by different concentrations of plant extracts of leaves and bark was measured. Ascorbic
acid and BHA were used as standard antioxidants in this assay. The IC50 values for leaves and
bark were calculated. IC50 values for DPPH radical scavenging assay were determined as 54 ppm
for leaves, 76 ppm for bark, 37 ppm for ascorbic acid and 82 ppm for BHA. When comparing the
IC50 values of leaves and bark with the IC50 values of standard antioxidants, F. leucopyrus
possesses high anti oxidant ability. This gives the assurance for F. leucopyrus to act as potential
cancer healer. Further to this, the leaves and the bark extracts of F. leucopyrus were investigated
for phytochemicals using phytochemical screening methods reported in literature. It was found
that the plant contains huge amounts of phytochemicals which are alkaloids, saponins, cardiac
glycosides, flavanoids, leucoanthocyanin, tannins and polyphenols. These phytochemicals must
be responsible for the anti-oxidant potentials of the plant, F. leucopyrus.
