Abstract:

Strobilanthes cuspidata (Benth.) Anderson (Acanthaceae) are used by the tribal people of Nilgiri hills for joint pain and inflammation. A detailed study on the natural products present in endemic medicinal plants as well as pharmacological aspects will pave way to discover new drugs. Hence the present study was attempted to assess the biological activities of the crude extracts by antioxidant and cytotoxic assays. The 70% hydro-ethanolic extract of S. cuspidata was prepared to study DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, metal chelating activity, total antioxidant activity and in vitro cytotoxicity was assessed in Vero cell lines (African, Green monkey Kidney and Normal). The results showed that the plant extract of S. cuspidata possesses antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. Moreover in vitro cytotoxic activity of the alcoholic leaf extract was assessed in Vero cell lines (African, Green monkey Kidney, normal). The percentage of growth inhibition was calculated using the concentration of the leaf extract to inhibit the cell growth by 50% (CTC50). The study revealed that the activities observed could be attributed to the presence of some phytochemicals which have been associated with antioxidant and cytotoxic property.

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